A year has passed since Ireland left the bailout programme and 2014 has been characterised by cautious optimism and some signs of economic recovery. That recovery, however, hasn’t yet been felt by workers, and it is in this respect that we must work towards the goal of income recovery in 2015.

In terms of achieving improvements in the public sector, my hope is that there will be a consensus between the Government and unions that the pension levy would be seen as a sensible place to start.

It is entirely appropriate, as the Government commits itself to unwinding the FEMPI legislation that was used to reduce the public service pay bill, that we commence the process of dismantling the levy.

But income recovery is not just an aspiration for the public sector. It’s needed right across the economy – including the community, voluntary,  commercial and private sectors. Wage movement is just one ingredient of economic recovery, and public service pay improvement is just one element of that.

Now, more than ever, the campaign for pay recovery needs to be inclusive, and capable of expressing solidarity across the entire workforce.

It is now widely expected that the state’s spending deficit will go below the 3% target set by the Troika next year. Ireland’s deficit and borrowing costs will be lower than those of France, Britain and other EU states. These are the signposts that show we’re moving out of the crisis, and they are accompanied by signs of pay movement in sectors such as construction, retail, finance and in the multinationals.

They are modest pay movements, but they are real signs of recovery, and we welcome them. Nevertheless, CSO figures published in November revealed that average annual earnings have fallen despite economic growth and longer working hours.

It demonstrates that optimism can’t and won’t be sustained without real wage recovery. As we face into a year where that is our goal, it is vital that we retain the sense of unity and purpose as union members that has given us strength throughout the crisis.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you, and your families, a peaceful and happy Christmas.