Judges must share pain like all public servants

I’M a public servant and just like ambulances drivers, gardaí, nurses, care assistants, porters, catering staff, maintenance workers and many others, I have had to take a number of wage cuts through levies — and I’ll probably take more after the Croke Park agreement ends.

We’re not happy about this but we know cuts are necessary.

When will we have contributed enough? The levies started from €15,000 for someone working part-time. A judge earning €200,000, plus expenses should not be totally exempt from pay cuts.

In fact, they should have done it morally without the need for a referendum.

From February on, all public servants other than judges will have their lump sum at retirement taxed.

The so-called guaranteed pension that we’re funding ourselves doesn’t look so good now, does it?

Diarmuid Considine

Newcastle West

Co Limerick