Sir, - One can only concur with Brian Fitzgerald TD, when he says that there is a difficulty in getting "people of quality" into politics. His argument is well substantiated by an Oireachtas peopled by squabblers. The level of debate seldom rises above bickering.
TDs are asking for a pay rise of 30 per cent to ensure the "quality of people" entering Dail Eireann. One would wonder what is meant by "people of quality"? The implication is that unless someone is of a quality that warrants retention by remuneration, then they are not fit to represent people. in other words, unless someone is likely to be poached by a bank or an airline offering higher pay, they are not of that quality.
Many of the 14 per cent of the workforce who survive on £63.50 a week would be people of a quality which does not require vulgar sums of money to do good work. Not only this, but they would have a much more representative experience of true life in Ireland than some of our present public representatives.
Deputy Fitzgerald also points out the insecurity of politics as a career. He, and others, should feel a lot more so after their ridiculous claims. - Yours, etc.,
Green Party spokesperson for
Enterprise and Employment,
16 Presentation Road,
Galway.
PS: Trevor Sargent TD does not support this pay claim.