THE Progressive Democrats have confirmed they still have a target of 25,000 job cuts in the public service. However, they now insist that "the target would be subject to negotiation" with the unions.
Fianna Fail, meanwhile, has moved to distance itself again. Party leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said a Fianna Fail government "could not be proactive" in cutting public sector jobs.
Privately Fianna Fail admits the issue is damaging the party on the door steps. Publicly, however, it is trying to minimise the differences with the PDs and is stressing their commitment to social partnership and Partnership 2000.
Fianna Fail's deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, pointed out that the two parties had signed up to Partnership 2000 and would only negotiate changes "within those parameters".
The Government parties have called on the PDs to explain where they would like to see the job cuts. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, said the PDs wouldn't just put thousands of public servants out of work - they'd make it impossible for them to operate.
"We know that the PDs have a Thatcherite policy of cutting. But they must tell us how they would expect the country to function if their plans were implemented - and they must do it before polling day."
The PDs have said the job cuts could come from all areas except frontline staff such as doctors, nurses, teachers and gardai. However, Fianna Fail is very uncomfortable with the idea of administrative and clerical staff being reduced in Garda stations and hospitals.
Mr Ahern has stressed his party is committed to increasing the number of gardai and health service workers to deal with specific areas such as childcare. The unions have already objected to the proposal. It is not clear to what extent the PDs' tax cutting proposals would be jeopardised if the planned public sector pay cuts do not materialise.
At the presentation of the Fianna Fail strategy document on the public service, Mr Seamus Brennan, the party spokesman on transport, energy and communications, noted that strategic alliances are already a part of the future of semistates. He added that there would be no problem with the VHI going down that route.
Fianna Fail also plans to change the legal framework in which civil servants work. The "legal limbo" that many public servants work in will be cleared up, according to the party. Civil servants will be given access to the Attorney General's office and will be able to give oral advice without being liable legally.
According to Dr Jim McDaid, the Fianna Fail spokesman on equality and law reform, the blood board scandal might have been averted if these measures had been in place.
Fianna Fail is also proposing a "care of the disadvantaged and the elderly" project, to recommend a code for social administration.