Cutting public spending by €4 billion will result in the collapse of public services, according to the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions David Begg.
Addressing the SIPTU conference in Tralee, he said there was no way such cuts could be implemented without having catastrophic effects on the civilised standards of society.
Mr Begg said the Government could not 'crucify people' by forcing this adjustment in such a short period of time. He said he failed to understand why Revenue had failed to collect €1.8 billion in tax due to the exchequer.
Mr Begg said he was also amazed to read recently that the health service was owed €174m by health insurance companies for private accommodation in public hospitals.
