Leo Varadkar denies he is ‘screwing’ hospice staff over pay

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected claims from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that he is “screwing” staff working in State-funded hospices over pay increases.

During leaders’ questions in the Dáil, Mr Martin pressed Mr Varadkar as to why hospices funded by the State are not being given money to fund pay increases under the terms of the latest Lansdowne Road deal.

Mr Martin said such hospices and other voluntary hospitals, known as Section 39 bodies, were forced to cut pay and should be included in the increases in pay in the public pay deal.