Hundreds of civil servants are protesting outside the Dáil at the introduction of legislation this evening which will cut their pay by up to 15%.
The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions David Begg said the hallmark of the Budget was "unfairness" because it targeted public servants but left the wealthy untouched.
The General Secretary of Congress has accused the Government of "being guilty of incitement to hatred between public and private sector workers".
Sheila Nunan of the INTO said public servants "will not stand idly by and allow their wages to be cut".
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan’s speech is available to read here, or to watch here.
The Government’s summary of the measures announced in the Budget is available here.
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