Ministers ‘standing over’ Irish Water bonuses

Ministers have been accused of standing over a bonus culture at Irish Water after welcoming pay boosts for workers at the utility.

Irish Water employees are to get backdated incremental payments averaging €1,500 following a ruling by the Labour Relations Commission.

The company refused to pay the incremental awards for 2013 and 2014 after a new performance-related scheme was branded a bonus culture by opposition parties.