Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to be clear about one of the reasons for the difference in costs and wages. Under the agreement that we now have, the norm for many of the more recent entrants is that, until they get to a much later part of their career, they will be two salary points behind those who joined pre-2011. This means that the entire cost of equalising pay scales will be significant. At the moment, in the context of discussions that we will have under the auspices of aiming to conclude a replacement to the Lansdowne Road agreement, we are working through what the cost could be. I can give the Deputy an illustrative figure, which relates to the example he raised. For the Department of Education and Skills, the cost per annum in respect of teachers alone would be €70 million. That is just for teachers.

See this speech in context