SF challenges politicians’ pay as public ‘sucks up austerity’

The public are being told to “suck up the austerity”, while senior politicians take home six-figure salaries, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

She questioned why Taoiseach Enda Kenny was “taking home” €200,000 a year and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore €184,405.

But Mr Gilmore, responding for the Government in the Dail, said there was a different between gross pay and net pay.