The Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe, has said that the Government cannot not grant nursing unions a pay rise as such a move would see similar claims being made by other public bodies.
Mr Donohoe who was speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, said that he is fully aware of the contributions that nurses make on a daily basis, but unfortunately the government wouldn’t be able to accept their pay increase demands.
The Finance Minister also claimed that if the government were to grant their pay demands it would ultimately lead to a knock on effect were other public servants would ask be asking for similar increaes.
Mr Donohoe added that if the government were to grant major pay increases to all public servants, it would have a disastrous effect on the Public Service Stability Agreement.
Although he fully understands their situation Mr Donohoe said that he would do all he could with the assistance of PSSA oversight group to resolve the ongoing issue.