Consultants’ €200m back-dated salary deal ‘won’t have knock-on effect’

The Government’s €200m back-dated salary deal with thousands of hospital consultants will not have any knock-on benefits for lower paid public servants, a senior minister has claimed.

Education Minister Richard Bruton insisted the controversial consultants deal — which will see 2,600 doctors receive up to €72,000 a year pay hikes — is a separate issue to the wider pay restoration talks amid fears other groups will now lodge pay claims.

Speaking on RTE’s The Week in Politics programme just days after the consultants pay deal was agreed, Mr Bruton said while the €200m figure is significant it is far lower than the alternative bill of €700m if no deal was struck.