METRO FREE Monday, December 7, 2009 HELP METRO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER TODAY INSIDE TODAY See Page 3 Which footballer has been inspired by the Hulk? Interview: Page 16 Some kindly monster: Metro talks to Freddy PLUS Whats on TV tonight Pages 16-17 Crunch climate talks to save the planet REPRESENTATIVES from more than 190 countries are gathering in Copenhagen for crunch UN climate change talks. Thousands of officials, campaigners, politicians and journalists are descending on the Danish capital in a bid to strike a political deal on curbing emissions and providing finance to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change and develop without increasing their pollution. The fortnight of negotiations will end in a summit attended by dozens of world leaders. Environment Minister John Gormley and Taoiseach Brian Cowen are expected to attend next week. CUTS to public sector pay in the Budget could lead to riots similar to what happened in France, a union chief warned yesterday. Speaking to RT, Impacts Peter McLoone, the chief negotiator in the failed public sector pay talks, said he expects attempts to cut public sector pay by up to six per cent being met with a lot of anger. He said: Last February, the Minis- ter for Finance said that if he cut pay in France thered be riots in the streets so if he goes ahead next Wednesday and cuts the pay I think his forecast that well have a very angry reaction here will be true. The Government is to press ahead with pay cuts of 1.3billion across the public service after it rejected a trade union proposal for savings to be made through staff taking unpaid leave. Irish Congress of Trade Unions gen- eral secretary David Begg said yester- day the collapse of the talks was a lost opportunity for the country. Reiterating union beliefs that the Governments plans are too brutal and too quick, Mr Begg said he thinks people will be devastated by the end of the week. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs minis- ter Michel Martin has said, while the Budget will be very tough, it will be a turning point for the country. I think it will generate confidence that Ireland has the capacity to deal with the very serious challenges fac- ing us and there is resolve within the political system to meet those chal- lenges head-on. bY JOANNE AHERN Pay cuts to mean riots on streets Picture: Reuters Hopeful: A big globe captures the mood in Copenhagen Budget blitz: Page 2 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html