THE Fianna Fail leader has it would be difficult to secure the reduction of 25,000 public service jobs proposed by the Progressive Democrats.
Mr Bertie Ahern added that the figure was based on what had happened in the public service over the past five years. "But as jobs are shed, there is also recruitment. That is a reality."
He repeated that there would be no compulsory reduction in public service jobs, but if the numbers were increased it should be done in areas where they were needed. He was speaking to journalists during a tour of Cavan-Monaghan.