Kenny: 'We have to, we must and we will find €300m in savings'
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the coalition will get €300m in savings from the public sector pay bill this year - despite the rejection of Croke Park 2 by unions.
Kenny has also backed the embattled Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, telling the Dáil the government is absolutely united behind him.
When asked by the opposition for his 'Plan B', Enda Kenny maintained the government needed time to reflect on the ballot results.
But he warned that there was a need to make the proposed savings in the deal, one way or another.
"The bottom line here is absolutely clear. We have to, we must and we will find €300m in extra savings this year from payroll.
"That's the challenge the Government now faces and we will obviously reflect on this."
Meanwhile, after the executive council of Congress met in Dublin, they issued a statement warning against legislation being brought in to force through pay cuts.
“What has come out of it is that we fully endorse the vote that was taken and fully endorse that we will reject and resist any attempt to unilaterally impose pay cuts as has been suggested,” a spokesman said.
Congress insiders said the executive did not discuss Minister Howlin’s threat to enforce pay cuts without union consent.
