ICTU head hits out at HSE and Cowen

ONE of the country’s top union leaders went on the attack yesterday hitting out at the health service as well as finance minister and taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowen ahead of pay talks tomorrow.

As the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) launched a major economic report criticising tax exiles, rising inflation and the growing gap in wealth in Ireland, the union’s general secretary David Begg said a key factor during pay talks would be access to public services, especially health.

Referring to the current model of healthcare, Mr Begg said the ICTU was “very exercised” about health and would fight hard for the 832,000 union members it would front in talks.