Public sector workers are to bear the brunt of next year's austerity measures

[AtW]

In Ireland that is -

Ireland's public sector workers are to bear the brunt of next year's austerity measures with cuts to their pensions, pay and staff numbers as the government tries to grapple with the scale of the nation's debts.

The €6bn (£5bn) package of tax rises and spending cuts is expected to clear a vital parliament vote and release the €67.5bn of aid pledged by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Voting, set to run into the night, began at 7pm, with the ruling coalition of Fianna Fail and the Greens predicted to squeeze the controversial plan through with 82 votes to 80.

Civil servants are facing a torrid 2011, with the pay of new recruits to be slashed by 10pc, the pensions of working age individuals reduced by up to 8pc, and 18,500 staff – 6pc of the entire public sector – to be made redundant.

In addition, income taxes across the spectrum are set to rise to bring in an extra €900m of revenues next year after Brian Lenihan, the Irish finance minister, said: "Our income tax system is no longer fit for purpose."

More from the source: Ireland's austerity budget puts the squeeze on public sector workers - Telegraph

[DimPrawn]

[norrahe]

So you can all look forward to the migration across the pond to blighty