Public pay bill can't escape the cutbacks

It hasn't quite been death by a thousand cuts. However, it is clear that finding the budgetary savings for 2012 has been hugely difficult for the government. With so many areas out of bounds because of the Croke Park agreement and other sensitivities, cuts have been made in service levels, and this is now hitting the public.

Unfortunately, the kind of trouble we are in requires major adjustments that will hit numerous services, ...