Gardaí and teachers will not get better pay deals, warns Minister
Gardaí and teachers have been warned they will not get better pay deals than other workers in the public sector.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe says no increases can be considered until the Lansdowne Road deal runs out - in 2018.
He has set up the Public Service Pay Commission – which will discuss future pay with public servants.
However, Minister Donohoe says there cannot be special deals for the ASTI teachers or gardaí – or all public servants would want them.
"Those unions are being very, very clear with me that they want to ensure that their members' interests are dealt with, and if they see any change in relation to how we handle the Lansdowne Road Agreement, they will expect that change to be delivered for all the participants of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
"And that is not affordable to the country, either now or in the long run."
His predecessor in the Ministry, Brendan Howlin, wants the Lansdowne Road agreement to be replaced altogether.
He said that it is not fair that some unions would accept a deal, while others would get better terms afterwards.
"I've said this publically, that those with the sharpest elbows are accommodated and other not," he said.
"Whether you're a teacher or a nurse, a garda or a social worker, you've all made a significant contribution.
"That has to be appreciated by ensuring that everybody at the same rate at the same pace, is accommodated on the path to recovery."
