It’s time for the gravy train to stop

Further to recent articles in the Irish Examiner on the issue of TDs’ expenses, these politicians should be stopped drawing these vulgar pensions immediately.

I’m referring to the six ministerial pay-outs averaging €300k equating to €1.8m.

Also the ongoing ministerial and TD pensions thereafter averaging €104k equating to €4.4m annually, judicial pensions of €35.68m annually equating to as much as €611 daily per individual in some instances, presidential pensions of €800k annually.

Of course not forgetting the public sector and civil service allowance savings of €3.5m out of a targeted €75m — just laughable.

It’s a gravy train that’s unbelievable for a bankrupt country. All politicians should be absolutely ashamed of themselves to allow this carry-on to continue. What are the ordinary citizens expected to live on — fresh air?

It’s absolutely unbelievable that the Dept of Public Expenditure has no explanation for the increase in staff numbers of 185 at €150k-plus salaries each. Of course, not forgetting taoisigh and ministerial advisors’ vulgar salaries, and !!! the HSE chief, all of whom got substantial salary top-ups.

If politicians retire or lose their seats before normal retirement age, they should apply for Jobseekers’ Benefit like everyone else. No exceptions.

Definitely no ministerial and TD pensions, no lump sum pension payments, no termination lump sum payments, no termination payments and no severance pay. Scrap all political expenses, particularly travel and car expenses.

Their place of work is Dáil Eireann. If push comes to shove, give them bus or train passes — not cash. The general public don’t get any travel expenses for going to work, why should politicians?

No doubt the ordinary taxpaying citizen will be savaged again by way of more cuts and a raft of stealth taxes, not to mention property tax, water and septic tank charges etc, all of which will be neatly rolled out, in another rip-off, ie if the ordinary taxpaying citizens are naive enough to put up with it.

Government ministers, and the rest, seem to conveniently forget that it was not the ordinary taxpaying citizens who ran up the reckless debt, nor were they the stupid gobshites who presided over it.

What about all your election promises? Remember, a general election may not be too far away and there will be a political price by way of political heads. Politicians take note, don’t even attempt to expect that the ordinary citizen will take any more punishment for the mess that they did not create in the first instance.

For the forthcoming budget, Noonan, Howlin and Burton should make a serious start with the above mentioned items.

Start cleaning up the abuse of privilege and absolute waste in their own back yard (Dáil Eireann) for a start. No waffling, fudging, dodging or ducking — no excuses, just do it.

Michael O’Connell

Carrigtwohill

Co Cork