Howlin hopes talks will yield €300m

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said he is confident that the latest round of Croke Park talks will yield the anticipated €300m savings sought by the Government.

With concern growing that the €300m figure will not be met, the minister warned that cash savings and reform was his “intention throughout” and “my instruction to the negotiators”.

“We are confident we will make cash savings and will have an even better reform agenda,” he said.