TDs back down on ‘unfair’ cuts

LOWER-PAID public sector workers have had their wages reduced by more than 10% in the past 18 months, the Taoiseach admitted yesterday as his backbench TDs backed down on their opposition to the “unfairness” of the cuts.

At a parliamentary party meeting last night, Fianna Fáil TDs retreated from their stance that the Government should reinstate pay cuts for higher paid public servants who are getting special treatment under Government Budget plans.

Those earning more than €125,000 a year were due to take a pay cut of between 8% and 12% in the budget plans. But just before Christmas, the Government decided to take into account the fact that they have already lost their bonuses, so the pay cut will now amount to just 3%-5%.