Pay rises on the cards for public-sector workers

Government officials will sit down with union leaders this summer to negotiate the first pay rises for public servants since the dying days of the Celtic Tiger.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin revealed the timeline to the Dáil yesterday, admitting “seven years of no pay increases” and “two or three” rounds of wage cuts during the recession have been “unprecedented”.

Responding to questions from Fianna Fáil counterpart Sean Fleming and Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald after Siptu suggested a fortnight ago that a 5% increase is needed, the Labour TD confirmed discussions are imminent.