Cabinet council discuss specifics of €2.5bn cuts

The Cabinet’s inner circle will meet this evening to decide on specific measures to reach the €2.5bn budget in tax and cuts agreed by ministers to take out of the economy next year.

The Economic Management Council (EMC) — a quarter of cabinet members and their unelected advisers — will decide exactly what the make up of next year’s budget savings will be.

Labour ministers are now attempting to reduce their department cuts after the figure agreed was viewed as a victory for the party last night.