Union: Government policies 'unfair and damaging'

Tens of thousands of workers are preparing to take part in a series of country-wide demonstrations this afternoon in opposition to planned Budget cutbacks.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has organised marches in eight locations across the country, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Tullamore and Dundalk.

Tom Geraghty, General Secretary of the Public Service Executive Union, has said whilst today's protests may be unnecessary and damaging, unions have been left with no choice.

Mr Geraghty said: "It's absolutely not what we want to happen.

"We feel we've no choice frankly. We've a situation here where Government is not prepared to engage in the traditional social partnership model. They have decided on a particular course of economic policies".

"That particular approach is not just unfair, it's extremely damaging," he added.