Taoiseach adamant scale of cuts essential

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has asked public service workers, who have bourne the brunt of the budget cuts, to remember that employees in the private sector have also suffered.

But he was adamant the scale of the cuts was essential to create jobs for the future and make the country competitive. Despite the massive budget cuts the cost of state borrowing rose on international markets in reaction to the difficulties faced by Greece, another member of the eurozone.

Mr Cowen said he believed the cost of debt would be reduced as the details of the Irish Government actions became known. “There is always a little time for people to accommodate and understand what it is the Government is achieving,” he said. Asked what he had to say to people in the public service earning less than €30,000 a year that were hurting as a result of the cuts, Mr Cowen said the savings were necessary.