Govt briefs ICTU and IBEC on budgetary plans
21/10/2009 - 07:19:31The Government has briefed employers and trade unions about its plans for this December's Budget as part of moves to explore if a new social partnership deal can be negotiated.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan set out their assessment of the country's economic prospects and their planned budgetary approach during the talks last night at Government Buildings.
They told ICTU and IBEC that they want to develop a national response to the economic crisis that has widespread support.
However, the prospects for a negotiated deal appear extremely slim, with the trade union movement insisting that the Government's plan to cut €4bn in public spending next year will cause further economic damage.
Several unions have also insisted that they will not support any further cuts in public-sector pay.
They are accusing the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition of deliberately making ordinary people pay for the economic crisis while insulating the wealthy from any hardship.
The Government plans to meet the other social partners over the coming days before assessing whether a programme for national recovery can be hammered out.
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