We’ll foot the bill for public sector pay rises but get nothing in return

I WAS suffering under the delusion, probably like most other people in the private sector, that the secretive benchmarking deal for workers in the public sector was supposed to result in productivity and improved services.

That, and Sustaining Progress, is going to cost taxpayers €141 million and far from getting better services, we will, apparently, be getting worse or fewer ones.

Benchmarking is going to cost us €86.4m, and the other deal will cost €55.8m, to keep our public servants happy doing whatever they're doing.