Hard times for leader paid more than Bush

HAVING been reduced to tears by the Taoiseach’s famous interview with Brian Dobson on RTÉ news last year, I pity Bertie Ahern having to exist on a mere €310,000 annual salary (plus expenses, driver, jet, make-up, etc) which he has been forced to accept.

I feel like organising a whip-around, a dig-out and a soft loan for him. And I will be rushing to accept his oh-so-credible advice on wage restraint, just as we all did with Charlie Haughey’s similar advice 20 years ago. In response to Ahern’s invitation to put other leaders’ arrangements up front, here goes:

€279,000: US President George Bush