Sir, – As a pensioner without a mortgage I am prepared to shoulder my share of the burden subject to the following condition.The Minister for Finance must reduce the total reward packages (pensions, salaries, and perks) for the cossetted cohort of politicians and bankers.
As things stand, those in this elite group, particularly the politicians, have suffered no job cuts, while cuts are being made in our emergency services (police, fire and ambulance). This is not equitable.
The classic comparison is that of a TD and an intensive care nurse. The former is vastly overpaid, untrained, and hardly ever has to make a serious decision, while the latter is underpaid, highly skilled, and may participate in life and death decisions.
This is totally inequitable, however I am realistic enough to know the reward gap will never be bridged. Nonetheless, my aforementioned condition is that the budget must include meaningful cuts in the total reward packages of the elite.
Beware of grey power! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – There’s still a little time for all Dublin TDs to cop on and stop taking unvouched expenses of €12,000 per year (ie €1,000 per month or €250 per week); whether it’s government parties, opposition parties or Independents. How can they live with this daft and utterly selfish idea?
Dublin TDs can walk, cycle or thumb a lift to work before the Minister for Finance starts to read the budget on Wednesday. I want to see Dublin TDs grow up and refuse to take this money any more. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – What amuses me about the discussions about budget is that everyone seems to have forgotten the additional measures taken in 2010 and 2011. These hits are cumulative. The real figures appear to be €3 billion in 2010, €6 billion in 2011 (including the 2010 €3 billion) and now €9 billion in 2012 (including the €3 billion in 2010 and the €3 billion in 2011). A grand total of €18 billion in three years over and above all the pre-existing taxes. The Government must be delighted that the only figure we hear mentioned is this year’s €3 billion and not €18 billion. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – What’s the difference between a phlebotomist and the Government? A phlebotomist knows when to stop taking blood. – Yours, etc,