Gardaí are angry that a payment due next month will not be made until the new year, and say many members will suffer financial hardship over Christmas because of the delay.

The savings made under the Croke Park Agreement may be overestimated, according to a TD who is calling for a change in the calculation methods used.

The Taoiseach is meeting with the Croke Park Implementation Body this afternoon to examine how further public sector savings can be achieved.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will chair a meeting of the Croke Park Implementation Body this afternoon in a bid to secure more savings ahead of the Budget.

The midnight deadline to resolve disagreement between the HSE and hospital consultants passed last night with efforts continuing through the night to break the deadlock.