Cowen: Unpaid leave deal will not deliver savings target

A DEAL to get the public sector payroll down by bringing in a raft of unpaid leave days would not generate the savings needed, Taoiseach Brian Cowen warned.

Clearly stung by accusations he had caved in to union demands on the issue, Mr Cowen insisted further concessions would be needed to secure a binding agreement.

Opposition leaders responded by accusing the Taoiseach of creating confusion and allowing his pre-budget wage strategy “unravel” as he backed away from union demands for the trade-off.