IBEC: A fifth of public sector must go

A FIFTH of public sector jobs must be cut to adjust to the new economic realities, employer’s group, IBEC, told the Government yesterday.

During a meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen, IBEC said more than 100,000 jobs have been lost in the private sector in the past year and it would be unsustainable if similar cuts were not made in the public sector.

It was the first day of a series of meetings which the Taoiseach and his officials are holding with the social partners to discuss the worsening economic situation.