Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Wages will rise in the next number of years. The Central Bank is predicting that wage rises will outpace price increases over the next three years, despite the spike in inflation this year. From the public service perspective, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, arrived at an agreement with the public service unions last year on the national pay agreement, which allowed for increases. We will maintain our engagement and contact with the unions on the issue of wages, wage increases, sectoral agreements, etc. All of these are part of that broader agreement, as is the restoration of hours under the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation, etc.

The measures we brought in last week were designed to help as many people as we possibly could. The cut to electricity costs of €200 is a significant enough help to people. It will not cover everything.

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