IBEC look for 5,000 public sector job cuts

A delegation from IBEC has told the Minister of Finance, Charlie McCreevy, that the sum of €500m could be saved if numbers employed in the public sector were reduced by 5,000.

IBEC suggests that this reduction should take place before the implementation of benchmarking pay increases.

IBEC said that the cost of such benchmarking should not be passed on to businesses through the increase of local rates.