Lenihan: We must all accept €5bn cutbacks

MINISTER for Finance Brian Lenihan told people set to be hit by €5 billion worth of cuts and public sector job losses not to “selfishly” oppose the measures.

The Government was bracing itself for an angry backlash as the report of An Bord Snip Nua, set to call for a dramatic shake- up of the civil service, state agencies and welfare payments, was finally to be unveiled.

Up to 1,000 more teachers were expected to be among the casualties, with the ratio of teachers to pupils likely to be raised again, as Mr Lenihan stressed virtually nothing was off-limits for cuts.