08/10/2013

€2.5bn To Be Taken Out Of Economy

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has told RTÉ News that €2.5bn will be taken out of the economy in the Budget, instead of the estimated €3.1bn.

The Minister was speaking on his way into cabinet when he spoke to RTÉ.

"Things are going well," he said.

"It is still of course going to be a tough Budget, but maybe not as tough as we thought it would be a couple of months earlier."

Reporters asked the Minister his opinion on a statement made by SIPTU's Jack O'Connor that the union would propose pay rises if the government exceeds its target of reducing the Budget deficit.

But Mr Noonan said there was "clearly no scope" for public sector pay rises.

"If private companies feel they have to have modest pay rises, they should go ahead and negotiate them," he said.

(IT/CD)

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