Kenny should lead by example on public pay cuts

Enda Kenny confirmed on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that the Government could legislate to cut pay in the public sector.

I don’t suppose there’s any chance that before he issues more patronising lectures to the middle and lower ranking paid staff in the public sector about them accepting pay cuts he’ll lead by example and start cutting the pay of those at the top first.

The pay I refer to, of couse, is the pay of people like himself, the President and all members of the government and not just their pay too, but the myriad expenses and allowances politicians claim.

Mr Kenny is one of that select few who are considerably better off financially since there was a change in government because of the fact he more than doubled his own salary upon taking office and doubled his tax-free unverified expenses too.

If he led by example in lessening the burden he places on the taxpayer, then he might have some credibility to ask others who are paid less than him to accept further income reductions.

And while he’s at it, is it too much to expect him to have the decency to stop trying to pretend that the USC or the various levies don’t have the same impact as a direct pay cut and stop repeating the line that there have been no direct tax increases since he took office.

Until then he’s just another hypocritical Irish politician who talked the talk but didn’t have the guts to walk the walk once he actually got the reigns of power.

Desmond FitzGerald

Canary Wharf

London

England