Irish protest over pay cuts

Much of Ireland's public sector was expected to grind to a halt today in a protest against the Government's plans to cut pay and reduce the large public deficit.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen wants to push through €4 billion ($8.19 billion) of savings in the December 9 budget in the face of opposition from trade unions and some members of his unpopular coalition.

Cowen says spending cuts are needed just to stabilise the deficit at 12 per cent of GDP, before he can start lowering it towards the European Union upper limit of 3 per cent, which Brussels wants him to reach by 2014.