Cabinet to discuss welfare cuts in Budget
The Cabinet has been called to a special Budget meeting this morning in Government Buildings.
It follows reports of a new batch of welfare cuts - including cuts to gas, electricity and telephone allowances for pensioners and people with disabilities.
Reports say the headline welfare rates are not under threat.
Ministers will meet this morning and again on Sunday ahead of Budget day on Tuesday.
The Budget is expected to dominate proceedings at the Fine Gael National Conference which gets underway in Limerick later.
The event will be officially opened with a keynote address by the Taoisech Enda Kenny this evening and discussions about health, jobs and political reform will take place over the weekend.
Anti-austerity protesters will demonstrate outside the conference centre and Cian Prendeville of the Anti-Austerity Alliance says the protest has been inspired by a pensioner who wrote to the Taoiseach about the Property Tax.
