Irish negotiations

Negotiations between the Irish government and the unions on an agreed method of making public sector pay cuts have restarted after the first draft agreement was rejected by union members in a ballot.

The initial deal, reached in February, involved pay cuts of for those earning more than £56,000, as well as delays in increments and increased hours for most staff. However, this was rejected by the members of the unions involved.

The government says that savings of €300 million (£255 million) must still be found this year, rising to €1 billion (£850 million) in 2015.