Madam, - By raising their respective salaries 10-15 per cent, Bertie and his companions have sent a very clear and unmistakable message to their constituents, the unions, and the public in general: greed is good.
There is no other reason for them to accept those increases. Is it out of need? No. Is it because of their excellent performance? No. It is simple greed.
Moral leadership? There is no "moral" in their leadership.
Their message is that money is the only morality.
There is a theory that those we elect are servants of the people, not masters of the people.
That is what distinguishes government leadership from profit-driven corporate management.
There IS a difference, Bertie. You were elected, not hired.
You are there to represent our best interests, not your best interests.
And you can NOT put yourself on parity with leaders who run far larger and more complex countries such as the United States or France, that is dissembling of the highest order.
Good luck with the unions, you'll need it. - Yours, etc,
TOM COPPINGER, Celbridge, Co Kildare.
Madam, - While many people in the country believe that the cabinet are overpaid there are arguments on both sides - comparing Ireland with a GDB of $202.9 billion and Microsoft with a revenue of $51.12 billion, it could be argued that Bertie and histeam are entitled to a combined income four times more than those running the software company and so we are getting a bargain. It depends on your point of view.
Also we can look at this as an increase in advance of an economic downturn because even this Government couldn't be so blatant on entering a recession.
This hike was cleverly camouflaged with the fumble on driving law enforcement - outstanding misdirection!
I do wonder how much more we will have to pay those managing our executive branch for them to carry the authority and the responsibility for their offices.
If each member of theCabinet was paid €100,000 more, could they then be held account-ablefor knowing or not knowing what happens in their departm-ent?
It should be remembered that people who voted for the current Government are not entitled to grumble at this pay hike because at the next election they will forget the Orwellian truths revisited this past week. - Yours, etc,
S LYDON, Wilton, Cork.
Madam, - The recent hike in top people's salaries and the resulting expression of public concern point to the need for financial competition in this area.
There is absolutely no reason why candidates for political office or for senior public posts should not compete on a financial basis as well as on their qualifications, track record and general experience.
This Government, which has been to the forefront in introducing financial competition in many areas of service provision where, heretofore, it was regarded as unnecessary and indeed on, occasion, unethical, should have no difficulty in embracing the concept. - Yours, etc,
PÁDRAIG MURRAY, Ballinteer Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Perhaps all those who are complaining about the Government's pay rise and the provisional licence fiasco can give themselves a pat on the back if they voted this Government back into power. - Yours, etc,
ANN BRAY, Ballyroan Park, Templeogue, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Members of the Government are to be remunerated munificently - they deserve it.
Hopefully, in the December Budget, the same bounteous generosity will be extended to old-age pensioners and others who struggle on welfare payments - they need it.
Yours, etc,
SÉAMUS PHELAN, Montrose Crescent, Artane, Dublin 5.