Negotiations with professions expected to be difficult

FINANCE MINISTER Brian Lenihan has admitted that a key plank of the €2 billion savings plan may not be fully achieved this year because of opposition to the move.

The Government spends more than €1bn each year on a range of legal, medical and other professional services. These include, for example, GPs and dentists offering treatment to patients under the medical card scheme and lawyers offering free legal aid to defendants.

Under the savings plan, the Government envisages slashing the fees it pays to these professionals by 8% across the board.