Time to consider post-crash payback

A return to national partnership agreements will be considered along with a post-emergency reversal of public sector pay cuts, ministers have revealed.

Simon Harris, finance minister of state, said the Government would have to take a decision whether to bring about a new forum for wage and reform structures as Ireland emerges from the post-crash era.

The move followed Public Expenditure Reform Minister Brendan Howlin’s announcement that talks with trade unions would commence next year on reversing some public sector pay and pension cuts.