Pay equality must extend to rest of public service
With both the Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure conceding they couldn’t have pay inequality in the Cabinet, Labour public expenditure spokesperson Ged Nash TD said the same principle must now be extended to the rest of the public service.
Deputy Nash said:
“The Minister for Finance yesterday conceded that they acted to pay a €16,288 top up to a super junior minister so that there would not be pay inequality at the Cabinet table. The same principle should apply to the rest of the public service if this government is to retain any credibility.
“While the Minister may understand the great annoyance and anger about it, the actions of the government so far indicate a very different approach.
“Last week Michael McGrath said the change must be made so that all three super juniors are treated equally.
“In the recent general election Fianna Fáil committed to ending pay inequality for new entrant teachers. They acted within weeks to fix the issue for Ministers but not for other public sector workers.
“Unions representing workers in the public service who have campaigned for pay equality over many years have rightly reacted angrily to this measure.
“The hypocrisy at the heart of this government must now be addressed.”