Madam, - May I comment on two justifications that have been offered in defence of the recent increase in ministerial and other salaries?
The first came from Noel Dempsey, Minister for Marine and Natural Resources, when he said on RTÉ News that these increases had been recommended by an independent body. This implied that the Government had to accept such recommendations and had no power to alter or defer them. This must be a joke. There are stacks of very expensive reports containing just such recommendations in all Government Departments (especially that of Health and Children) and they can be ignored at will.
The second justification offered is that such salaries are comparable to those offered to the chief executives of large companies, and we need to attract people of talent and ability into the Dáil. If this is the standard we are setting, let us go all the way. CEOs in a business setting usually take responsibility for their actions or inactions in a way that Ministers do not.
I know that we can give our verdict through the ballot box, but this is not sufficient when the system will not change, just the personnel.
In addition, there is frequently down-sizing in business when a company is over-staffed. Arguably, we have too many TDs for the size of the population, and the Senate is surplus to requirements. If we are to apply the rewards found in business to politics, then let us apply the stringencies as well. - Yours, etc,
TERESA GRAHAM, Meadowbrook, Tramore, Co Waterford.
Madam, - The latest report of the review body on public sector pay found that the salaries of higher public service groups have fallen out of line with the private sector and recommended an interim increase of 7.5 per cent pending a full review. As a result, Irish ministers will earn more than their UK counterparts when parliamentary salaries are included (€195,800, versus €194,900).
How can this be justified when the huge differences between the respective budgets and responsibilities are taken into account and when the ineffectiveness and avoidance of accountability by many of our ministers are considered? - Yours, etc,
BRIAN FLANAGAN, Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin.