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TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowenwarned that the threatened second public sector strike would not influence the Government in its approach to reducing the State pay and pensions bill.

“It is not a question of what dates are set for strikes that will dictate the Government’s position here,” he said. “It is the objective merits of the situation that require that we proceed . . . to do, as I said, on agreed basis is preferable once we meet the objectives of what we are talking about.”