Lenihan reiterates opposition to new taxes
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has reiterated his insistence that - apart from the introduction of a carbon levy - there will be no new tax hikes in this December's budget.
Mr Lenihan has repeatedly said that the €4bn in savings he is planning in the budget will have to come through cutbacks rather than increased taxes.
The Government has been hinting for some time that it plans to reduce social welfare payments and introduce further cuts in public sector pay.
An Bord Snip Nua has also recommended a range of other cutbacks which lobby groups say will undermine many of the supports available to the most vulnerable people in society.
In a speech to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night, Mr Lenihan suggested that the Government would seek to lead by example by imposing substantial cuts in pay for ministers and senior officials in the public service.
He said the consequences of doing nothing to rectify the public finances would condemn future generations to "a life less prosperous than ours".
