Average public service pay has fallen by nearly €50 a week since 2009 according to official data. The figures, from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), do not include the so-called pension levy, which has further reduced public service pay by 7% on average.

The final shape of new certified sick leave arrangements, due to come into force for most public servants on 1^st January, is likely to be determined by binding arbitration in the Labour Court.

The union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute has challenged claims that Irish public spending is too high. Its director Tom Healy has questioned the international comparisons cited in a recent article by the Independent group’s economics editor Brendan Keenan, who had argued that Irish public spending was still too high despite the cuts.

The achievements of over 60 IMPACT workplace representatives were honoured at a training graduation ceremony in Dublin this month. All of them had completed new IMPACT workplace representatives’ training over the last two years.