Government ministers have met to finalise the details of forthcoming Budget.
Opposition parties have urged the Government not to make cutbacks that would affect those with the lowest incomes.
Meanwhile, Peter McLoone, General Secretary of IMPACT, has said that the public sector strike will go ahead if agreement on the partnership talks is not reached in the next 48 hours.
He also said the Government is probably hoping to have an agreement before the Budget can be finalised.
The discussions focus on a long-term transformation agenda for the public service, along with short-term mechanisms to cut the pay bill by €1.3bn in 2010.
- Six One News: Sharon Tobin reports that Opposition parties have urged the Government not to make cutbacks that would affect those with the lowest incomes
- Nine News: Sharon Tobin reports that IMPACT's Peter McLoone has said next week's public sector strike will go ahead if agreement on pay is not reached in the next 48 hours

