Fianna Fáil to seek independent review for any public sector pay rises

Fianna Fáil has said that it will demand independent verification of any pay rises given to public sector workers.

It comes as unions meet Government officials this afternoon for talks on how to reverse pay and pension cuts imposed during the financial crisis.

On five occasions between 2009 and 2013 Governments imposed pay and pension cuts through Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation.

Unwinding these was agreed in the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements.

However they currently deliver over €2bn a year in savings, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has said that a staged reversal will be necessary.

“Since FEMPI accrues about €2.2bn annually to the State, we certainly cannot do away with it in one fell swoop,” said Minister Howlin.

“So we must have an orderly unwinding of emergency legislation and to hopefully do that through agreement and negotiation.”

Fianna Fáil has said that further reform and productivity will be required as part of any deal.

Spokesperson Seán Fleming also wants proof that any pay rise will not be ahead of the private sector.

“We will be calling for independent verification of what is happening in these talks, by people external to the talks, to ensure that the increases being spoken about are in line with what is happening in the economy,” said Mr Fleming.

But off the back of these talks comes a fresh warning from Europe to keep implementing economic reform.