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Make graduated pay cuts in the public sector, reduce welfare payments and take the PR hit – if the Government is seen to fudge, international investors will pass harsh judgment, writes Rossa White

POLICY DECISIONS over the next year will shape Ireland’s economy for a generation. Yet it is barely appreciated that the Irish taxpayer won’t really determine whether choices made are correct or not. International investors have the call. The outcome to this week’s deliberations over public expenditure cuts will be an important watershed: the Government must signal to the rest of the world that it knows what is required. The right decision is to cut the public pay bill bravely and avoid any sort of fudge.