The Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has claimed that his main priority as Minister is to employ more staff in the health service, and not increase wages for those currently working in the sector.
Although Mr Varadkar says that he fully supports any upcoming pay restoration to the country’s many public servants. Mr Varadkar made his comments today after numerous reports claimed that the country’s some 300,000 public sector workers are in line for a pay increase of €800 + through a variety of tax cuts and pay rises.
It is understood that discussions on any pay restoration for Union members will take place at the start of next week. Minister Varadkar told reporters he was fully in favor of pay restoration, but not at the expense of hiring much needed staff.
Mr Varadkar said: “Public servants didn’t cause the crisis, but they did contribute enormously to the recovery, so I very much support pay restoration for public servants. “But the money is limited – it’s the same pot of money that has to go into providing better services, and tax cuts that benefit everyone in the economy.
He added: “My preference is to have more staff in the health service, not fewer staff earning more.”