Whistleblowers’ legislation raises some fears for unions, writes Stephen Rogers

LABOUR TDs are heading into next week’s budget feeling “used and nervous,” backbenchers warn.

A POWERFUL probe into the causes of the financial crash will be a priority if voters back a bid to boost the scope of Oireachtas investigations.

A FRESH round of pay cuts could be forced on public sector workers despite the Croke Park deal delivering €600 million in savings, ministers have warned.

THE Croke Park review reeked of all the worst aspects of the public sector the initial deal was supposed to transform.

The Public Sector Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has warned that more significant spending cuts and a further substantial reduction in jobs in the public sector are unavoidable.

A MAJOR shake-up of the senior civil service in order to bring in new blood and end a “compartmentalised” culture was signalled yesterday.

ONE of the key brokers of the Croke Park deal on public service pay and reform has conceded that public servants could work longer in order to stave off potential pay cuts.