Why haven't the Govt. ministers taken a pay cut

swingking

Can someone explain to me why the Govt. of this country feel the need to introduce cut backs and cut backs all over the shop yet they STILL haven't taken a pay cut themselves.

I'm well aware that they turned down a pay rise not so long ago but that's not the same as a pay cut.

People are only going to show some sort of respect ( note the word "some" ) when these ministers lead by example.

MagicMarker

Your post would have had a lot more impact if you used capitals for ''still'' rather than ''yet''.

You fúcked up dude.... for shame.

old boy

they cant afford it, their heads are stuck so far up their asses they dont understand

OPENROAD

I thought they had taken a pay cut

swingking

MagicMarker wrote: »

Your post would have had a lot more impact if you used capitals for ''still'' rather than ''yet''.

You fúcked up dude.... for shame.

Just did man

Abstar

"02 Feb 2009

Ceann Comhairle says reduced salaries would mean poorer quality politicians

Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue says reducing TDs' salaries and expenses would result in poorer quality politicians.
Speaking exclusively on Radio Kerry's Kerry Today programme, the South Kerry TD says he's already introduced a fairer system for expenses that makes the system more transparent.
He says although the country may be in an economic crisis, reducing Oireachtas members' salaries and expenses is not the answer.
Almost two years into his role as Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue admits he misses being a Minister". Source: Radio Kerry News http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/search.php

That's why. We need to pay the big money because the teachers, publicans, accountants, solicitors etc who represent us in the Dail would either
a. Suddenly become "poorer quality" if their pay was cut or
b. Quit and leave for the private sector/wherever they came from if say, there wages were reduced to maybe 60,000 because they would do so much better there........ Then all we'd be left with are "poor quality" people who would only work for such a low (:P) wage of say half the current TD salary....

GA361

That's disgracefull.


I suggest a socialist revolution.
Who's with me?

AlmightyCushion

If you were in charge of your pay rates, would you take a pay cut? Not many would.

Ostrom

GA361 wrote: »

That's disgracefull.


I suggest a socialist revolution.
Who's with me?

Not me, I'm feeling a little alienated today.

Although I may just be suffering from anomie.

jester77

Probably because they get to make the rules!

Paddy Samurai

In fairness to them they can't afford to, solicitors fees at the tribunals run it to tens of thousands , so they have to save up their pennies just in case.

Saibh

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

In fairness to them they can't afford to, solicitors fees at the tribunals run it to tens of thousands , so they have to save up their pennies just in case.

If some of them were honest in the first place, there would be no need for solicitors fees or tribunals.

Biggins

Comment by Herald writer - Gerry Carrol.

TDs who double job have their noses in the trough

Only in Ireland, only in Irish politics...
I have been incensed for years that elected representatives in our Government, with their large salaries and expenses, still feel a need to double job as teachers.
This a la carte attitude to our democracy wouldn't be tolerated in any other EU country, and it shouldn't be here.
Over the years TDs and ministers embarking on new careers in our Dail have been happy to hold on to their posts.
This extraordinary situation is symptomatic of the ills of this country, and the financial mess we are in.

Pocket

As we face financial meltdown it's not just a quirky anomaly of our system, it is a scandal and a national disgrace.
Thirteen of our elected representatives are double jobbing as teachers and TDs -- some of them for more than 20 years.
We now hear that Minister Noel Dempsey recently retired as a teacher -- despite not having set foot in a classroom in 22 years.
While they're double-jobbing, away from their schools, they are termed as being on 'Oireachtas leave'.
As such they remain on full salary and allowances, although the costs of their replacement is deducted.
Some pocket the balance, but in fairness some others do not.
After all these years, the current Education Minister, Batt O'Keeffe, is finally trying to get to grips with this extraordinary situation. It would have been reasonable to get a leave of absence for a normal Dail life-span, of five years.
Teachers could then return to the classroom to impart their wisdom -- if they've learned anything in Dail Eireann.
But any more than one term's leave of absence is not acceptable. As well as their Dail pension these absent teachers get one for being a teacher.

Greed

It is snouts in the trough -- the stuff of a banana republic.
Our elected representatives should be leading by example. It is unpardonable that they should -- by holding their jobs -- deprive our young teachers of being appointed to full time posts.
There have been rumblings of criticism down through the years, that this greedy practice should be discontinued.
But the Department of Education, in the face of such criticism, has defended the practice until now.
Maybe all that is about to change, now that Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has eventually decided to lead by example.
The culprits of this ongoing farce are some of our highest profile ministers and politicians, across all parties.
These include Mary Hanafin and Micheal Martin, who sit at cabinet, Labour's Brendan Howlin, Fianna Fail's Tony Killeen and Frank Fahey, among others.

Example

Let them give us a show of real patriotism, and set an example not just to the electorate, but to their own students.
We hardly have a world class education system.
Our hopes for the future, our children, are being housed in crumbling prefabs, stuffed like sardines in overcrowded classrooms.
This double jobbing should now be outlawed.
It is not acceptable in a modern democracy and it undermines confidence in the system and elected representatives.
In a time in which we're all being asked to make sacrifices I'm calling on all 14 of these politicians to get their syllabuses in order, so to speak.
Now would be good time for them to act in the best interests of the country, and resign their teaching posts.
Such a gesture might go some way to restoring confidence and respect.

Source: http://www.herald.ie/opinion/columnists/gerry-ocarroll/tds-who-double-job-have-their-noses-in-the-trough-1626761.html

Tom Trojan

Abstar wrote: »

Ceann Comhairle says reduced salaries would mean poorer quality politicians

And increased salaries?:rolleyes:

ArmaniJeanss

As public servants the pension levy will also affect all members of the Dail.

I'm sure you can still do a 'its not enough rant' though if you want.

Tom Trojan

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

As public servants ...

Does that mean we have to tip them?

Holsten

Double-Jobbing... haha brilliant.

The sooner I'm a politician the better. :pac:

Tech3

OPENROAD wrote: »

I thought they had taken a pay cut

Yeah a 10% cut I understood from anyway in the budget. Well when you work it out there still getting paid a couple of hundred thousand a year so 10% off isint going to affect them really.

Something more along the lines of 30 to 50% cut would sound just right and will bring them down a peg or two.

Dave!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0205/1233787117361.html

€20,000 cut for Ministers, €10,000 for TDs

GOVERNMENT PAY: THE GOVERNMENT’s decision to impose pension levies on State employees will cost TDs nearly €10,000 a year, while Ministers will lose nearly €20,000 annually.

This drop in Ministers’ income will be in addition to the 10 per cent pay cut they have already accepted.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said senior public servants, including some members of the Oireachtas, who had volunteered to take a salary cut could now have their full salary restored.

Their contribution to assisting the public finances could now be made through the new pension levy, he said.

However, Government Ministers had decided to continue with their 10 per cent voluntary pay cut in addition to paying the new pension contribution of 9 per cent.

“We believe that those in positions of leadership in all parts of the country should and must lead by example,” he said.

In a separate development, Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott has said she will take a 20 per cent pay cut and has written to all Irish MEPs, TDs and Senators asking them to do the same.

She has urged them to join her outside the front gates of Dáil Éireann at noon next Tuesday, when she will instruct the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas to reduce her salary.

Irish MEPs’ wages are paid by the Oireachtas at the same rate as TDs and Senators (€7,791 a month for 2008), while expenses and staff costs are covered by the European Parliament, according to a spokeswoman for the European Parliament office in Ireland.

After the upcoming European elections in June, a new statute will come into force and most MEPs will be paid by the European Parliament at a standard rate of €7,339.

Ms Sinnott said: “This month so many people are being made unemployed, they are taking 100 per cent pay cuts. I’m not looking for personal glory.”

A move by MEPs, TDs and Senators to surrender a fifth of their salaries could “hopefully take pressure off lower paid public servants” and pressure senior private executives “to catch the bug”.

In her letter, Ms Sinnott wrote: “We all know that there are difficult times ahead and I truly believe that the only way to tackle these successfully is to put ‘politicking’ and political manoeuvring aside.”

Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kennedy has called on judges to take a 10 per cent pay cut. Under the Constitution, the pay of judges cannot be reduced during their term of office and none of them accepted a reduction after the Budget.

However, Mr Kennedy said the judges could make a gift of a percentage of their salary to the State “if they wish to assist in the resolution of this economic crisis”.

“It is important now, more than ever, that everyone plays their part in leading us out of this recession and I would strongly urge our country’s judges to step up to the plate and agree on a universal 10 per cent cut within their field,” he said.

Senna

They made soon piss-poor attempt to grab a headline a few months ago by announcing that ministers would take a 10% pay cut, but they didn't say that its only on their ministerial allowances, so really only 3%-5%.:rolleyes:

ejmaztec

Abstar wrote: »

"02 Feb 2009

Ceann Comhairle says reduced salaries would mean poorer quality politicians

Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue says reducing TDs' salaries and expenses would result in poorer quality politicians.
Speaking exclusively on Radio Kerry's Kerry Today programme, the South Kerry TD says he's already introduced a fairer system for expenses that makes the system more transparent.
He says although the country may be in an economic crisis, reducing Oireachtas members' salaries and expenses is not the answer.
Almost two years into his role as Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue admits he misses being a Minister". Source: Radio Kerry News http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/search.php

That's why. We need to pay the big money because the teachers, publicans, accountants, solicitors etc who represent us in the Dail would either
a. Suddenly become "poorer quality" if their pay was cut or
b. Quit and leave for the private sector/wherever they came from if say, there wages were reduced to maybe 60,000 because they would do so much better there........ Then all we'd be left with are "poor quality" people who would only work for such a low (:P) wage of say half the current TD salary....

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

wolfpawnat

Abstar wrote: »

"02 Feb 2009

Ceann Comhairle says reduced salaries would mean poorer quality politicians

Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue says reducing TDs' salaries and expenses would result in poorer quality politicians.

Ya sadly lived in this asswipe's constituency, he is beyond useless and this statement is beyond bs!

We are expecting people who actually are doing something for us, eg nurses, doctors, teachers, street cleaners, and many other people in all areas of society:D to take a pay cut and these overpaid [EMAIL="w@nkers"]w@nkers[/EMAIL] wont take it on the chin too. They should be forced to get paid a salary equal to those of other people in society and I am not talking medical consultants!

How about they actually stay in the country for Paddy's day like the rest of us who cannot afford to leave! And also no free cars, I don't get one so why should they! And lets see them live on national minimum wage and shop in Tescos and Dunnes simultaneously to try and avail of bargains!

And what is with having junior ministers to scratch their over-sized arses! Everyone indiscriminately needs to tighten our belts not just us average citizens, they should, as others said, lead by example!

KerranJast

Brian Cowan's biggest responsibility is not screwing up the bank balances of a few million people. Barack Obama controls the biggest nuclear arsenal in the World. I wonder who gets paid more. Hmmm. :rolleyes:

dtwhaler

Abstar wrote: »

"02 Feb 2009
Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue says reducing TDs' salaries and expenses would result in poorer quality politicians.
Speaking exclusively on Radio Kerry's Kerry Today programme, the South Kerry TD says he's already introduced a fairer system for expenses that makes the system more transparent.
He says although the country may be in an economic crisis, reducing Oireachtas members' salaries and expenses is not the answer.
Almost two years into his role as Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue admits he misses being a Minister". Source: Radio Kerry News http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/search.php

That's why. We need to pay the big money because the teachers, publicans, accountants, solicitors etc who represent us in the Dail would either
a. Suddenly become "poorer quality" if their pay was cut or
b. Quit and leave for the private sector/wherever they came from if say, there wages were reduced to maybe 60,000 because they would do so much better there........ Then all we'd be left with are "poor quality" people who would only work for such a low (:P) wage of say half the current TD salary....

1. How much poorer quality can you get ?
2. How can they leave for the private sector now ? The jobs aint there anymore thanks to these higher quality politicians !