Public servants receive pay bonanza
The Government has authorized pay rises in the upper levels of the public service which average at 12%.
The £18m package recommended last year by the independent Buckley Report will lead to higher salaries for judges, top civil servants and politicians.
The pay increases will be backdated to last September, when the body presented its report to the Government.
TDs will have their annual pay increased by 18.7% to £46,500, with the Taoiseach moving up 22% to £140,000 and the Tanaiste now on £120,000.
The largest rises of 33% are handed to civil servants in charge of Government departments, who will now earn £135,000.
Reaction from the country's unions has been mixed.
SIPTU's Des Geraghty said while the payments were a lump sum over four years, his body would prefer if everyone was subject to the terms of the national pay agreement.
However, the anti-PPF ATGWU condemned the move as "cynical".
