Time for a debate on public service pay hikes

THE postonement of the cabinet’s huge wage increase is great news for everyone who has expressed consternation about this measure and for the morale of the country in general.

It shows the democratic process truly works, that government, when it errs, can be reined in by the public.

However, it seems the Government has decided to allow the recommended salary increases for judges and top civil servants to go ahead as scheduled.

Judges’ salaries are set to increase by 18%, while those of the Garda Ombudsman and Garda Commissioner will rise by 15%.

The salary increases recommended by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector affect no less than 1,600 public servants.

The total cost of the increases to the taxpayer will be €16m a year and the average recommended rise for these people is 7.3%.

Yet the Government has spoken of an increase of a mere 1.5% for lower paid public service workers when talks on the next national pay agreement begin in February.

But, as stated by SIPTU president Jack O’Connor, “what is good for one, is good for the other. The same principle applies.”

So it is all the more necessary for the public, less the 1,600 or so top paid public servants, to continue to express indignation to their public representatives at the extraordinary findings of this review body and to urge a full, open public debate on the benchmarking and the public sector wage increase.

Kevin Cotter

C. Sant Pau 96, 5 1

08001 Barcelona

Spain