Union leaders meet to decide on further strike action

Union leaders are meeting this evening to decide whether further strikes in the public service should happen before the Budget.

A 24-hour shutdown of all public services, except emergency services, will start at midnight.

Flood-hit areas of Cork, Clare and Ballinalsoe will not be hit by the strike.

Unions are also deciding whether to re-enter talks with Government to try to reach agreement on cutting €1.3bn from the public service pay bill.