26/10/2007

Irish Government's Pay Rise Slammed

Government Ministers’ pay raises shouldn’t be awarded to them at all, on the basis of their current performance.

The Irish Opposition has made the call by way of criticism on the recent announcement that the Taoiseach is to receive a pay rise of more than €38,000.

The increase, which will bring Mr Ahern's salary to €310,000 per year, is based on the terms of the report of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration that was accepted by the Cabinet earlier this week. Ministers' salaries will rise between €25,000 and €38,000.

But Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton has said the pay awards for Ministers and the Taoiseach should not be allocated - although he accepted that the pay increases for other senior civil and public servants should go ahead.

In a scathing comment, he pointedly said that the government couldn’t presume to give itself performance-based pay awards, especially on the basis of its current performance.

Under the pay review, senior civil and public servants, semi-state chief executives, judges, the heads of universities and the Garda Commissioner will also see their pay increase significantly under the review.

Overall 1,600 top-level figures in the public sector covered by the report will see their salaries increase by on average 7.3 per cent.

The increases, which will be introduced in three phases up to March 2009, will cost the exchequer about €16 million.

In comparision, US President George W. Bush is paid about $400,000 (€280,000) while UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown receives £187,000 (€268,000).

(BMcC)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

18 October 2002
NI firefighters balloted over strike action
UPDATE: Firefighters across the UK have voted in favour of holding strike action in the next stage of their dispute over pay. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members voted to begin their industrial action on October 29 - the first firefighter's strike in Britain for 25 years.
10 September 2002
MLA's call for new firefighters pay scheme
Two UUP MLA's have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to implement a new pay scheme for Ulster's firefighters. North Antrim UUP MLA the Rev Robert Coulter called for the introduction of a new pay formula in a motion to the Assembly on Monday. Mr Coulter said he hoped it would help achieve a real remedy to the question of firefighter’s pay.
08 February 2008
Possible Salary Increase For MLA's
MLA's could be in line to receive a pay windfall, which could see their salaries rise to £52,000, if recommendations of an independent review are accepted. The move is being proposed in a bid to bring Assembly Member salaries up to the level of that of their UK counterparts.
23 March 2016
MLA's To Get Pay Increase
MLA's are to receive a pay increase of £1,000, according to an Independent Financial Review Panel. However, following "radical changes" rent and rates for constituency offices will be capped at £8,500 and there will be lower amounts for shared offices with other politicians and only one constituency office will be funded.
24 May 2021
Hovis Workers Agree Increased Pay Offer
A majority of Hovis workers have accepted an increased pay offer and strike action has now ended. Unite the union welcomed the offer and said it was as "decisive victory for workforce achieved through collective organisation and industrial militancy".