Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has said that the Government must address the implications for the entire public sector as a result of the pay agreement with representatives of members of An Garda Síochána.
Commenting on the agreement Eugene Murphy said “While the expected cost of this pay agreement between the Government, the GRA and the AGSI will not put too much strain on the public exchequer, the possible knock on effects are of great concern to Fianna Fáil.”
“Already, we have heard from other public sector unions looking for similar type agreements for their members. It is important that common sense and calm heads prevail as the Government may indeed be in danger of providing for a perfect storm of pay demand and industrial unrest,” said Deputy Murphy.
“Minister Donoghue must immediately request that the Public Sector Pay Commission meet all of the trade unions as a matter of urgency to listen to their concerns and grievances.”
“The parameters of the Lansdowne Road Agreement must be maintained. However, it now looks inevitable that negotiations on a potential successor agreement may have to start much earlier than previously envisaged.”
“It is crucial that Minister Donohue manages expectations as the country can ill afford unstructured pay increases across the board when half of the country is still waiting to feel the effects of any recovery and when public services have to be rebuilt after they were cut to the bone over the past few years.”
“Global investors are looking at Ireland right now. We must be confident in our management of public sector pay agreements. With the looming multiple threats from Brexit, now more than ever, the Government needs to get a handle on the issue of public pay, and project Ireland’s budgetary stability,” concluded Eugene Murphy.