Talks to restore pay to public servants

Low-paid public service workers will be the first to see their pay restored under a new round of pay talks but the process of reinstating previous salary levels could take years, it has emerged.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said yesterday that low-paid workers would be the first to see pay restored. New pay talks are set to begin in June to undo cuts made during the recession.

Mr Howlin said that the Government would again open its books to trade unions during talks and that a lot of reform had been achieved, including €3bn in pay-related savings.