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The Government has decided to defer the first part of Cabinet pay rises by a year and to pay the remainder of the increase in 2009 and 2010, according to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. "The full costs will not come on the exchequer until 2011, which will be 11 years after the last report by the review body," Mr Ahern told the Dáil.

In the wake of the controversy over the Taoiseach's €38,000 pay increase and €26,500 for Ministers, Mr Ahern said: "We have put the cost back 11 years from the last implementation of the review body's report", in reference to the pay increase recommendation by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector.