The Youth Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said that those involved in the public sector pay talks should maintain a 'special focus" on the needs of young workers, who had suffered greatly since the onset of the crisis in 2008.
Chair of Congress Youth, Teresa Walsh said: "Young people have seen job opportunities closed off and incomes cut. Many thousands have been forced to seek work and opportunity abroad. They have sacrificed and contributed enormously to the recovery. They now face a higher cost of living and find it difficult to earn a living wage. Restoring pay and pensions for new entrants into the public sector would be a step forward in securing a positive future for all young people in Ireland."