Sir, – Even to the least numerate it must be obvious that a significant part of public service pay increases goes straight back to the State as taxes and pension deductions.
A crude estimate would be at least 50 per cent.
In my political life I tried to bring this up with both commentators and economists. Economics journalist Colm Rapple was the only one who ever responded.
But then a pay deal that was effectively half the figure cited wouldn’t be half as striking would it? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN RYAN,
Cork.
Source: The Irish Times · Thu Nov 12 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ
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