Gormley hints Cabinet pay increases may be deferred

The Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has become the latest Minister to hint that the controversial pay increases for top politicians, which awarded a €38,000 rise to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, could be deferred.

Speaking on Newstalk 106, Mr Gormley, who is in Bali for high-level United Nations climate change talks, echoed earlier remarks from Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney and the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan.

"I think there's some merit in what's been said. I'm not there [ in Ireland] obviously so I don't know the full context of what's been said. Likewise I hear there's speculation the Taoiseach is supposed to be giving the matter some consideration.

"Again I don't know about that. I think, and I think it's been very clear as well, that there has been a certain amount of disquiet, and in the context of social partnership it is difficult and it will be played up."

Noting the reaction of trade unions, Mr Gormley said: "The fact that even though it is a very independent report and this is the way it has been done for the last 30 years or so, there have been murmurs and misgivings coming from Ictu and others. So I think that needs to be considered when making any decisions in relation to this matter."

The issue is not on the early agenda for today's Cabinet meeting, and there were no indications from the Government last night that the list of subjects would be changed in advance of it this morning.

The Taoiseach now has a serious problem dealing with the issue, which has remained stubbornly on the public agenda for several weeks.

Union leaders have been quick to highlight the clear contradiction between the pay rises and calls by the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, for unions to accept modest pay rises in the next national pay round.