Reform first - Gardaí to demand pay rises

No-one can be surprised that gardaí have added their tuppence worth to the growing demands for pay increases. 

Gardaí want a restoration of the 22% lost since 2008. They also want, and this seems entirely justifiable, an end to the two-tier pay scales and the disadvantage this imposes on recruits — just as it does on young teachers and nurses.

In a society with impressive growth, these demands are understandable, but the integrity of growth touching 7% must be suspect, especially as there are predicated on transnational companies using Ireland as a tax base.