Those who are set to see a bump in their salaries include medical consultants, judges, CEOs of State bodies, and senior civil servants.
Image via WikimediaAround 4,000 high-earning public servants will get pay increases between 10 to 15 per cent today.
It affects those earning over 150,000 euro a year, including judges and hospital consultants.
The government is reversing pay cuts from the financial crash.
The eligible people had their pay cut through the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation which was introduced in 2008.
Tanáiste Leo Varadkar admitted on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, that the Government looked at postponing the move but legal advice instructed it should go ahead.
It is understood the pay restoration will cost €30 million for the remainder of this year.
The legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in 2017 and was supported by Government and opposition parties including Sinn Féin and Labour.
It provided for completion of restoration for those earning over €150,000 to take place no later than 1 July 2022.
Sinn Féin's public expenditure spokesperson, Mairead Farrell, says the pay rises will annoy the public:
"We know that so many ordinary workers and families are completely struggling at this very moment in time and when they wake up this morning and they hear that there's these pay increases for really really high earners coming today. That at the same time the government is saying that these families that are working, that are struggling, have to wait until budget day."
