Irish Budget 2010: The fudge agreed by Taoiseach Brain Cowen on curtailing the costs of the public sector via an agreement on unpaid leave that will provide possible cost savings ranging from the Department of Finance’s reported estimate of €300 million annually, to the trade unions’ estimate of up to €1 billion, is a return to the jellyfish politics of the boom years. A leader who has not once outlined a vision of reform since taking office in 2008, now appears to be banking on the trade unions to produce proposals on reform, which after years of resistance, they are now bizarrely dubbing “transformational.”
Related posts:
- Cowen hoists white flag on Irish public sector pension reform; Pensions bill jumped 56.5% in the period 2004-2009 to €2.0bn
- Coughlan launches nine "transformational" Competence Centres for research and public investment of €56 million
- Irish General Election 2011: Dublin Chamber calls for “root & branch” public sector reform; Silent on reform of protected private sector
- Ireland Budget 2011: IBEC says Budget should include labour market reforms; Silent on reform of sheltered Irish private sector
- Dr. Peter Morici: Striking a balance; US unions and the public interest