Madam, – It was with some despair that I read in the McCarthy report of the salaries being paid to employees of some of our semi-State industries. The average salaries plus benefits per employee for the Irish Aviation Authority, Dublin Port, Eirgrid, ESB and Bord Gais were reported as respectively being €120,000, €110,000, €97,000, €94,000 and €77,200. These benefits range between 20 and 30 per cent higher than those paid in similar industries in Europe and the US. The effect that these costs have on our industrial competitiveness, consumer prices and taxes should not be underestimated and should be addressed in a manner that serves the country best.
Most of these organisations are service industries and sadly they are not alone in maintaining the high cost of doing business in Ireland. Legal fees and transaction costs have not been reduced, nor has the medical profession reduced its fees in line with the reduced real or disposable incomes of the general population.
Despite the anger being directed at them, politicians have shown some leadership in terms of salary reductions and moderation of State costs. It is time for those in responsible positions in other fields, including the legal, medical, higher civil service, state and semi-State industries to show moral leadership and do the same.
Out of our current difficulties we have the opportunity, by addressing our costs and tempering our expectations, to emerge by the middle of this decade a leaner, fitter and more competitive economy with some prospect of getting our unemployment levels back to those of a decade ago in a more balanced society. – Yours, etc,