Overpaid elites leave us in shambolic state

IVOR Callely and his expenses, Jackie Healy Rae and his combined family’s expenses are really only a diversion.

In fact, if one delves a little deeper Anglo Irish Bank and the possibility of losing more than €30 billion is another diversion of a sort.

The governmental system is a shambles. Our non-performing Taoiseach sets the trend with his outrageous salary, while the President and the leaders of our semi-states also draw salaries way above that of Brian Cowen.

Barristers receive scandalous fees for attendance at tribunals, hospital consultants are paid megabucks and county/city councillors get expenses which amount to tax-free earnings well in excess of the average pay packet.

And let’s not forget the judiciary’s reluctance to hand back some of their huge salaries in the national interest. And if all of that isn’t enough, we have our ridiculously overpaid TV presenters and college lecturers working four hours a week for 26 weeks of the year.

We are in an awful mess. And the Taoiseach in waiting is a reincarnated Father Trendy. My advice? Leave the ship – it’s holed below the water line.

Brendan Ronayne

Bridgewater

Carrigrohane

Co Cork