Howlin warns of 'pressure points' after public service retirements

Minister for Public Sector Reform said that there will be "individual pressure points" in the public sector system as a result of the early retirement scheme.

Howlin warns of 'pressure points' after public service retirements

Minister for Public Sector Reform said that there will be "individual pressure points" in the public sector system as a result of the early retirement scheme.

This Thursday, more than 7,000 public-sector workers are set to leave before changes in pensions take effect.

Nurses have reacted angrily to reports that health service management is proposing changes to work practices to cope with their staff losses, expected to be as high as 4,300.

Minister for Public Sector Reform Brendan Howlin said that he expects there will be problems, he says the overall goal is to have a better, more efficient and cheaper sector.

"There will be individual pressure points, there's no doubt about that, because we can't get to balancing our Budget, to reducing the numbers, without some difficulties," he said.

"It is incumbent on everybody in the public service, and everybody in the nation, to work together to get us through these extraordinary economic times.

"And we shouldn't be looking, necessarily, for difficulties, we should be looking for resolutions, both at workplace level and at national level."

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