Bruton Says Government Aren't Ruling Out Pay Increase For Public Sector

Bruton says government aren't ruling out pay increase for public sector

The Jobs Minister says there will be "pay recovery" in the public sector, but it will depend on how much money is available to the government. It is after SIPTU President Jack O'Connor said over the weekend that he expects pay rises in the public sector as unions prepare to sit down with the government in May. The Haddington Road Agreement remains in place until July 2016 and as part of that deal pay is frozen until the end of this year. Minister Richard Bruton says the government is under tight spending constraints and pay recovery in the public sector will be affected by that. "Well at the end of the Haddington Road agreement, when that comes to an end, the negotiations are now starting as to what would then happen" he said. "The government aren't entering these negotiations ruling out any increase - we have, in the Haddington Road, recognised that there would be scope as the economy recovers for some restoration in pay". "But the issue will be to what degree that is affordable and deliverable" he added.