Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Thursday 30 March 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# Public Service

This year
2023
# european unions
Public service staffing crisis not just an Irish problem but 'a Europe-wide issue'
European and Irish public services employees met in Dublin this week to discuss how to future-proof the sector amid a retention crisis.
# Public Service
Civil servants warn Donohoe of 'reform fatigue' within public sector due to Covid and Brexit
The warning was issued in a ministerial briefing from December 2022.
Last year
2022
# Pay deal
Revised terms amounting to a 6.5% pay increase accepted by public service workers
The new terms will cover the next 12 months.
# rising inflation
McGrath gives the green light to exploratory talks on public service pay
The talks will centre around the pay for 350,000 people who work in the public sector.
# Pay and Conditions
School secretaries vote to accept pay scale aligned with public service rates
Previously most secretaries were employed directly by schools, with many earning minimum wage.
All time
# Public Service
Public turned to trustworthy online media during pandemic, with RTÉ and The Journal top
Reuters Digital News Report 2021 shows this publication and State broadcaster were most popular news sources for online audiences.
# Pay increase
Explainer: Why are politicians getting a 2% pay rise?
Many are angry that TDs and senators will see a pay rise next week.
# Public Service
'It's not popular, but needs to be said': MacSharry defends saying some civil servants using lockdown to watch box sets
High-ranking civil servants have called for the comments to be withdrawn.
# Dáil
Taoiseach favours setting targets to make the health service, schools and the civil service more diverse
The Taoiseach says the civil service is currently ‘very white’.
# emergency mobilisation
Public service workers to be transferred to help with contact tracing and social welfare applications
It comes after a flood of workers signalled their desire to help tackle the public health crisis.
# Retirement
President signs bill that allows public servants work until they're 70
The State pension age is scheduled to increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028.
# PR
Government spent over €200k promoting the Public Services Card
The rollout of the card sparked a storm of publicity about its use last year.
# Your Say
Poll: What age would you like to retire at?
The mandatory retirement age for civil servants is to rise from 65 to 70 under new measures.
# beyond 65
Retirement age for public service workers to increase to 70
A number of parties, including Fianna Fail, have called for people to be allowed to work beyond 65 if they so choose.
# not able
Public servants took more than 2 million sick days last year
The government are saying changes to the way sick leave is administered has saved the taxpayer €51.5 million.
# paying a premium
Public or private sector workers - who actually came out worse in the recession?
New figures shine a light on the pay gap after the swingeing cuts of 2010.
# return to sender
Fifty Dublin City Council JobBridge interns not employed at the end of placement
The Department of Social Protection say this is down to the public sector recruitment embargo.
# Cough Cough
These are the government departments with the highest rates of absenteeism
The sector’s head said there were an ‘unacceptable’ number of sick days being taken in the public service.
# airin go brea
Emails from annoyed viewers abroad led to RTÉ's new international player
The RTÉ fans wanted to know why they couldn’t watch their favourite shows on the existing player.
# Jobswatch
Fancy a job as a public servant? Recruitment for 550 positions has started
The job will be filled over the next two years.
# Permanent and Pensionable
Fancy a civil service job? Recruitment will start again next year
A moratorium on hiring will be lifted.
# cash no flow
Bank of Ireland will not be able to pay salaries until tomorrow morning
Some public (and private) workers woke up today to find no salary in their bank account.
# not even close
Gardaí €13 million off target for Haddington Road savings
There was also a similar shortfall last year, with just €9 million of the projected €15 million in savings achieved.
# public offices
Council workers in South Dublin are working to rule today
Their union say that their pay has been cut unilaterally.
# deficit targets
Impact: We want more pay... as long as the economy can handle it
The public service union will only seek increased pay if the government reaches deficit targets.
# Chaching
Dozens of retired civil servants receive pensions worth €100k
Minister Brendan Howlin has revealed that 35 receive pensions worth €100,000, with five of those being €118,000.
# Health system
Problems recruiting consultants? 'Let's deal with it'
The IMO said this evening that there has been nothing but “disincentives and obstacles” put in the way of highly skilled doctors.
# Public Service
'A lot done, more to do': Reform plans promise more public services cards and better procurement
Launching new public service reform plans today, the Minister of State Brian Hayes said there has been “a lot done, more to do, to borrow a phrase from the past”.
Voices
Aaron McKenna: Our government hides its actions by obstructing Freedom of Information
To hide public service deficiency and ensure that ‘accountability’ remains a word in the dictionary, senior public servants have been waging a long war on Freedom of Information, writes Aaron McKenna.
# New Ombudsman
Peter Tyndall to replace Emily O'Reilly as Ombudsman
He’s set to take up the position after serving in the same role in Wales. There were 35 expressions of interest in the job from journalists, PR professionals, politicians and others.
# Fire Service
Applicants for Dublin Fire Brigade were asked if they’re gay or straight
The Public Appointments Service says it’s a standard procedure, and helps them monitor equality across the public service.
# cso stats
Average weekly earnings fall in seven out of 13 categories
The largest decrease, of around seven euro a week, was recorded in the hospitality sector. The largest increase was in construction.
# Public Pay
Another public sector union has voted in favour of Haddington Road
The union represents workers in the Civil Service, An Post, FÁS and other organisations.
# Public Sector Pay
The Croke Park Agreement saved the taxpayer €1.8 billion
The final report of the public sector pay deal’s implementation body has outlined the savings it achieved.
# Greece
RTÉ’s equivalent in Greece is shut down to cut public spending
ERT will cease operations for three months, and is likely to reopen with only a fraction of its current workforce of 2,800.
# Broadcasting Charge
New broadcasting charge won’t be used to save ailing newspapers
Pat Rabbitte says the replacement for the TV licence needs to ensure minimal standards for RTÉ, and can’t save other media.
# pay talks
'Industrial peace' on the way if unions accept pay proposals
If the union’s proposals are accepted, the ‘essential elements’ of the Croke Park Agreement will remain in place.
# Croke Park II
Howlin: It's in personal interests of public workers to accept pay cuts
As he prepares for Kieran Mulvey to sound the death knell on pay talks, Brendan Howlin says national solvency is good for everyone.
# croke park 2
Sector-specific talks on table as Howlin prepares for defeat on pay deal
The public expenditure minister tells TheJournal.ie that some unions would need a dramatic U-turn – and that the next option is negotiating with unions on an individual basis.
# Public Sector
Five days to go: New deadline to reach deal on public sector pay cuts
The government is seeking to cut public sector pay by €300 million this year and hopes for a negotiated settlement with trade unions by next week.