Cabinet talks - We need real leadership to reverse ills

Cabinet ministers met at Farmleigh House yesterday to focus on the economy in the hope of arresting the downward trend evident in the recent rise in unemployment figures, as well as the increase in State borrowing.

In addition, the current rate of inflation threatens to damage our competitiveness.

There are inevitably going to be cuts, but those cuts should not be put on the backs of the poor, or those less well off in our society, which is the case in cutting health services to public patients.