Quote the bottom line

IN the current debate about salaries and pensions, why are gross amounts always quoted?

These figures are to my mind virtually meaningless — what matters to anyone is surely their take-home pay after all deductions have been made.

And it does not matter what these deductions are called — income tax, PRSI, levies of various kinds, health, income and pension, or whatever.

One never sees or gets hold of this money, so would it not be more honest and realistic to quote net amounts when discussing salaries and pensions?

Des MacHale

Blackrock

Cork