Public sector fiasco

I FEEL obliged to respond to Kevin McCarthy, (Letters, Dec 8) when I said the Croke Park deal must be torn up.

For starters, it seems two-thirds of those in Red C poll last weekend agree with me.

He says public service workers had to take extra cuts. Well, how is the pay bill increasing each year when there is also a reduction in numbers? Because there are pay rises due to increments.

Yes, public workers did have to contribute on average of about 8% to a pension plan that would cost in excess of 35% from any insurance company.

I asked for a fair budget. What genius dreamed up the idea of taking €800 a week from a disabled person on €188 whist taking €80 from the pension of senior public servants and ex-TDs/ministers getting in excess of €3,000. Really, what planet are these people on?

Michael McCarthy

Beaumont Drive

Cork