A spat over public service pay broke out between the two main parties in the middle of the election campaign when Fine Gael pledged average annual pay increases of 2.5% in the four years following 2020, while accusing Fianna Fáil of planning a pay freeze.

Sinn Féin, Labour, the Greens and Social Democrats say they support a referendum on keeping water services in public ownership in their 2020 election offers. That’s according to the political parties’ responses to a range of issues raised with them during the election campaign, which Fórsa published today.

Forsa’s local government division is preparing to ballot almost 9,000 members in an ongoing dispute over the introduction of a job evaluation scheme for workers in the sector.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) recently launched its feminist manifesto for Ireland, as part of an effort to make women’s equality a key feature the election. Party leaders were invited to answer four questions, and there were some interesting results.

As the general election campaign entered its second week, most political parties were caught off-guard by the emergence of the pension age as an election issue. Currently the age at which workers can claim the state pension is 66. It’s due to rise to 67 in 2021, and to 68 in 2028. 

The value of pensions for those who joined the civil and public service after January 2013, and retired in or before 2019, increased by 1.3% from January 2020. 

Lower levels of inequality bring increased life expectancy and happiness, and less stress and crime.