Taoiseach is value for his increased salary

THE recent pay rise awarded to senior public servants has been a media-driven issue for the last few weeks.

The Taoiseach has been the target of much attack despite the fact that the pay review was independent. Mr Ahern has accepted the pay rise, and I believe it represents value for money

The print media have been particularly vocal in heaping continuous and totally unjustified criticism on the Taoiseach.

It has been suggested he is paid too much compared with British and US leaders. But this is not comparing like with like as the leaders of these countries enjoy many benefits that the Taoiseach does not.

I can’t see anything wrong with Mr Ahern’s salary. Using private sector standards, does he offer value for money? In economic terms, ‘Ireland plc’ has surpassed all economic targets in the past 10 years.

If Mr Ahern were to be judged on private sector terms and performance, he would be commanding a salary and bonuses well in excess of his current rate.

Apart from judging the Taoiseach’s worth on purely economic grounds, many commentators seem to have conveniently forgotten the enormous effort he has expended (with others) in achieving peace on this island.

If I were to ask anyone in the 1980s, what would we, North and South, have been prepared to pay for someone to broker peace on this island, would €338,000 be considered value for money? I hasten to say we would have gladly paid any money to achieve this end-game.

How many people are alive today because of this peace for which Mr Ahern has to get considerable credit?

I think it is time we were less begrudging and realised that the monetary reward to Mr Ahern has been well earned.

History, unlike the media, will be kind to him.

John A Barry

Inniskeen

Feohanagh

Co Limerick