We need to control lord mayors’ salaries

The salaries of the lord mayors in Cork City and Dublin are a matter of ongoing public concern and affect rate payers and those using city services.

The lord mayor’s office is only a figurehead in the eyes of the public. The office is undemocratic and should not be recognised as a office that arguably did not survive the enactment of the Irish constitution.

The office is a privilege, given to the city by the British crown. Politicians in any case, should not be allowed to appoint public representatives in any form. It is also understood that only a three-party pack is allowed to agree who the lord mayor will be, with others being excluded.

We are living in recessionary times, and any salary of circa €100,000 is disgraceful for a sinecure, in addition to the many perks and expenses associated with the office and junkets. The cost of the Lord Mayor of Cork’s office last year was over €200,000, according to some reports.

Most data on Dublin’s lord mayor regarding cost appears to be a well-kept secret. This is unsustainable, with the troika insisting on cuts across the board to bring down the cost of running an overpaid public service in a country swimming in debt.

The salaries of these lord mayors should be brought under control and the office phased out completely.

Local government budget allocations at the national level should be cut to stop this scandalous waste, and people should not recognise the office of lord mayor until it is elected by the public and directly answerable to it.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Co Cork