Eamon Gilmore: Rising wages sign of healthy economy

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has told a trade union conference rising wages are "the sign of a healthy economy" and, while creating and maintaining employment remains the Labour Party’s top priority, "we should look forward to seeing wages rise and living standards improve".

Addressing Impact trade union’s biennial conference in Killarney, Mr Gilmore said when the economy recovers to prosperity those on low-middle incomes would have to benefit, not just those at the top.

On public service pay, he believes the next time the Government and unions sit down to talk, “it will be to talk about increasing pay not reducing it”.