The country’s second largest trade union, UNITE, has announced it’s to ballot its 60,000 members in the public sector up to and including all out strike action.

It says it will do whatever is necessary to protect jobs, pensions and pay.

The Taoiseach will this evening outline his position to the social partners when he meets with them at government buildings.

And he told the Dail earlier that the government will make cuts to public service pay and pensions in December’s budget.