Cabinet set to agree freeze on pay increases for ministers

The Cabinet will next week agree a freeze on pay rises of up €12,000 for each minister following a backlash over scheduled salary increases.

Separate rises for serving TDs though will have to be voluntarily returned, the Government confirmed, after calls for deputies to also give up top-up payments.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe is set to bring a note to Cabinet next week to ask his colleagues to forego increases, due under the restoration of public service pay cuts.