Salary levelling for civil servants ‘not a pay hike’
THE restoration of pre-austerity wages for Ireland’s highest paid public servants should not be misrepresented as a pay rise, the Tanaiste has insisted.
Leo Varadkar said those characterising the move as a salary increase for the richest in society were factually incorrect.
The group earning above ¤150,000, which includes hospital consultants, judges and top-grade civil servants, is the final cohort to have their pay reinstated at the start of
July. Mr Varadkar defended the restoration during Dail exchanges with People Before Profit – Solidarity TD Paul Murphy yesterday.
Mr Murphy said the Government’s decision to push ahead with the plan contrasted with its position on trade union calls for a significant wage increase across the public sector to help absorb spiralling costs of living.
He also highlighted ministers’ reluctance to introduce any fresh supports for families until October’s budget.
The TD described the situation as a “tale of two Irelands”. He told the Tanaiste: “Instead of massive pay increases for the top 1%, the Government needs to take action now to protect low and middle income workers from the cost of living and housing crisis."
Mr Varadkar replied: “I think what you described there was quite simply a misrepresentation of the facts.”
The Fine Gael leader continued: “This is not a pay increase, it’s pay restoration. It’s the reversal of pay cuts that happened over 10 years ago.
“It’s not a pay increase – it’s the reversal of the pay cut and pay restoration and if it was any other group, that’s how you would describe it.”
On the impasse over public sector pay rates, the Government this week indicated it was poised to make a new offer to the unions.
Mr Varadkar said the Government planned to re-engage with the negotiations and table a further offer.