The Government is holding firm in its plans to cut premium payments for frontline staff in the public service, despite a major protest last night involving thousands of nurses, gardaí, prison officers and fire and ambulance personnel.

Government sources said even after the proposed cuts, it would still be paying a significant premium payment to public service staff for working on a Sunday.

About 4,000 frontline staff took part in the rally against the Government’s proposals to reduce Sunday premium payments from double time to time and a half and to abolish special Saturday and “twilight” evening payments.

Union leaders at the rally urged frontline public service staff to lobby their TDs and senators and to warn them that it would never be forgotten if legislators supported such plans to cut the premium payments.

The government. It likes big cuts and it can not lie….