Gardaí and teachers ‘can still change their mind’ on pay deal - or may lose €2K bonuses

Gardaí and teachers who have turned down the pay deal with the Government face the loss of €2,000 in bonuses, but they can still change their minds, says Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

He said it was now up to trade unions representing gardaí and teachers to decide whether to sign up to the new deal, but they must do so before next year.

His comments came as the Labour minister signed off on legislation yesterday which reverses pension and some pay reductions under financial emergency measures introduced during the crisis. Mr Howlin confirmed though, that unions who had not agreed to the Lansdowne Road public sector pay deal, which comes into place next year, faced the loss of their work-related bonuses or increments.