Ireland imposes cap on public-sector pay

The Irish government is to introduce a salary cap of €250,000 (£209,000) for all public-sector employees while the salaries of the president, Taoiseach (prime minister), cabinet ministers and judges are to be cut.

The new measures were contained in a harsh budget delivered this week by finance minister Brian Lenihan, which will cut the country’s deficit by €6 billion through spending cuts and tax increases.