Dublin staff win pay rise after extension of licensing hours

Bar and banqueting staff in Dublin hotels have won a pay deal to work the extended licensing hours introduced in the Republic. They will get wage increases of between 5.5% and 9%.

Under the new Irish licensing hours, pubs in the city close at 11.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 12.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They used to close at 11.30pm in summer and 11pm in winter. The 11pm closing time still applies on Sundays.

According to a spokesman for Ireland's Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, which finalised the deal, the increase will also apply to supervisory staff and part-time workers.

The Jurys Doyle group, which has eight hotels in the Dublin area employing more than half the unionised bar staff in the city, has agreed a 9% increase.