Sir, - The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy and Mr John Dunne of IBEC have both stated on RTE programmes that everybody is better off today than ever before. What a nonsense. There are many people worse off now than in the past.
In my own case my remuneration is now less than it was 14 years ago. In real terms this is a considerable drop in income - and my present job is much more responsible and onerous than the one I had 14 years ago. I am angry that people in responsible positions can, to suit their own agendas, make statements that are not correct.
I agree, however, with the overall sentiments expressed by both men about excessive wage demands. I suggest the introduction system whereby any group seeking a wage increase greater than the norm would have to agree to a comparative study with other groups of workers in comparable jobs. It would need to be proven that the group of workers making the claim were underpaid in comparison to others before any increase was allowed.
For such a system to work it would have to be negotiated by the social partners as part of a new national agreement. In my view this is the only way to stop the leap-frogging that could destroy our economy. Politicians should also have to participate in such a study before they get an increase. We would then have an equitable system for wage determination. - Yours, etc.,
Brendan O'Donoghue, Raheen Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24.