LEO O'HARE,
Madam, - Now that the Celtic Tiger has been finally snared, it is timely to recall the Buckley Report of a mere couple of years ago. It was the trail-blazer for the new procedure of benchmarking. Its beneficiaries among others, not surprisingly, were our politicians. Pay increases of approximately 18 per cent and 30 per cent were awarded to members of the Dáil and Seanad respectively.
I remember a senior Cabinet Minister of the time citing those generous increases as proof of the benefits of benchmarking. His comment was intended for the ears of the members of a particular union who were not quite converted to the new idea. When the benchmarking report was finally published in June 2002, many public servants felt let down.
As we all now know, the storm clouds had been gathering steadily at that time, and some little adjustments to the Government's finances have been deemed necessary in the meantime. Now the signs are ominous regarding the early payment of the benchmarking awards, should public servants vote to accept them.
However, I have a proposal which might help to cushion the disappointments; it would save the Government some money and some face - both of which, I'm sure, would be warmly welcomed. Let the politicians forgo their pay increases and instead accept the average percentage pay increase awarded under benchmarking. Furthermore, let them receive it over the same period as their fellow public servants.
What a gesture of solidarity that would be! But will Mr McCreevy do it? Why do I get the feeling that the answer to this question will be the same as the one which a certain James Gogarty got when he inquired about the likelihood of a receipt from a former politician? - Yours, etc.,
LEO O'HARE, Edoxtown, Co Meath.