DAVID MARLBOROUGH,
Sir, - A couple of years back, when this country was "awash with money", lower grade public servants were among the workers denied wage increases on the basis that these could cause our "tiger economy" to overheat. (Despite this, higher grade public servants, judges, and Government Ministers gained handsomely under the Buckley Report with 27 per cent increases in both 2000 and 2001!)
Now the same lower grade public servants are being told they can't be paid the measly amounts awarded recently under the Benchmarking Report until some time in the future, as the money isn't there!
Question 1: Where did his money we were "awash with" end up?
Question 2: When will the time be appropriate to pay lower paid workers legally awarded wage increases?
Question 3: Why was there no problem in awarding the Government 27 per cent wage increases?
The populace of this country really do have the Government they deserve! - Yours, etc.,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6W.