According to the Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO) average hourly earnings in the Irish Republic were virtually unchanged over the year to Q1 2012. More recently unions have rejected a proposed pay freeze at Allied Irish Bank and a staged 3.5% deal at the utility company Bord na Móna. However, A new deal for the Tesco retail chain in Ireland will give employees a 2% pay increase from January 1st 2013 – the first increase for five years.