Public sector pay rise calls to be discussed this week

Mounting demands for pay rises in the public sector will be discussed between the Government and trade union representatives this week as the fall-out from a special Garda pay deal continues.

Workers’ representatives want a new agreement accelerated and are demanding equal benefits after the Government last week caved in to Garda threats of a strike and agreed a €40m package.

Ministers insist that agreements with workers must remain within the agreed terms of the Lansdowne Road public sector deal, which runs until 2018. Unions say the Labour Court-recommended €40m Garda deal was outside of that.