Letter to the Editor: Independent body must rule on Dáil remuneration
As any doctor will tell you, the important thing is not to treat the symptoms but to treat the underlying illness.
So?
In this instance, Dara Murphy is the symptom and the underlying illness is that there exists a body called Dáil Éireann, financed by the taxpayer, which has total control over its own terms and conditions of employment and its own remuneration. It sets its own salaries, expenses, pensions, etc. Nowhere in the private sector would such a situation be allowed.
Even in the public sector; if the question of redrawing constituency boundaries arises a totally independent constituency commission is set up.
So?
It is clearly essential that a similar independent body be set up to lay down the terms and conditions of employment and remuneration of members of the Dáil.
So how do we, the taxpayers, bring this about? First, rest assured that there is no way that various political parties are going to do this but there is a general election coming fairly soon so it is up to us to make this an election issue. Ask each party to declare publicly that it is their policy to do this as a matter of urgency in the incoming Dáil. Shout this from the rooftops; nobody listens to the silent majority.
Benvoirlich
Bishopstown
Cork
