The Government may have to consider introducing a fresh staff recruitment ban and freezing promotions in the public sector because of the recession caused by Covid-19, it can be revealed. In briefing documents prepared for new Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, obtained by the Irish Examiner, it is made clear some of the stark choices facing him as he grapples with the €30bn deficit. In addition, if staff numbers are not managed adequately, or if the Government was to accede to demands for additional staff numbers in certain areas – e.g. “The fiscal projections in the SPU included an additional amount of €1.5 billion in relation to additional income supports. In relation to the potential to pay for a new public service pay deal later this year, officials said that in the normal course, negotiations on a successor would take place shortly.

Source: Irish Examiner August 02, 2020 10:15 UTC