Gilmore: IMF recommendations not specific to December budget
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is refusing to say if cuts or changes such as means testing to child benefit or over 70s medical cards will be considered by the Government.
His comments follow recommendations from the International Monetary Fund yesterday.
Gilmore faced questions on the proposals in the Dáil this morning but says the issues are not necessarily proposals for December's budget.
"What the IMF were talking about yesterday are medium to long-term recommendations that they are making to the Government.
"They are not specific recommendations that are made in the context of next year's budget or the context of the programme."
Meanwhile, some of the IMF's proposals have prompted an angry response from a group representing older people.
Age Action has pointed to the recommendations on further means testing of the over 70s medical card, and of the Household Benefits package as particular problems.
The group says some of the proposed cuts would seriously undermine key supports which many older people need in order to live with dignity.
