Public sector pay deal: What’s in it for workers and can we afford it?

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, after days of fraught discussion, the Government and trade unions agreed a €5.2 billion deal that will deliver pay increases of at least 10.75 per cent to more than 400,000 workers by the end of March 2029.

The immediate result is that the public sector strike planned for Thursday has been called off – a relief for the Government as the timing coincides with the biggest set-piece in Ireland’s EU presidency when nearly 50 heads of state and other dignitaries arrive in Dublin for meetings.

So what happens now? When will the 400,000 workers represented by the 19 unions see an increase in their pay packets? How much will that increase be? And will workers in the private sector eye this double-digit pay rise and begin pressuring bosses to match the Government’s apparently deep pockets?

Irish Times work correspondent Emmet Malone, who was at the talks until they concluded at 3am on Thursday, explains.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.