Snip Nua Backlash

THE Government is facing unprecedented public defiance if it moves to implement the €5.3 billion cuts proposed in the controversial An Bord Snip Nua report.

The Government faced deep public anger yesterday after the report into public sector expenditure cuts was accused of targeting the poor, sick and disabled by several anti-poverty groups.

Report chairman Colm McCarthy dismissed those claims, however, and said the country simply could not afford to continue borrowing €400 million per week to balance the books.