The Irish Independent reports on comments by Kevin Callinan about negotiating a new public service pay agreement. Speaking to Anne-Marie Walsh last week, Kevin said said stronger remote-working protections for public servants will be a priority at upcoming talks on a new government wage deal, and said unions will also seek to make up lost ground after research revealed that the average household lost 2% of disposable income in the budget.
The Irish Examiner reports that plans for the final unwinding of Fempi legislation (legislation that cut public service pay during the financial crisis) will go before Cabinet today.
The price of oil soared 27% (to $117.58 a barrel), the biggest daily gain since at least 1988, on top of a 28% rise last week. A long stretch of higher energy costs is now anticipated as the conflict in the Middle East continues. Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne has said food prices and energy costs could go up “dramatically” due to the war in the Gulf, and that “it may well be that the Government will take action” on the cost of living.
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