Madam, – The Government’s unwillingness to tackle pay levels in the semi-State sector is incredibly frustrating. We are told that competitiveness needs to be regained in this country, yet pay levels which contribute to some of the highest electricity and gas prices in Europe will remain untouched. Perversely, employee incomes in many of these semi-State companies, including ESB and Bord Gáis, have increased this year. An average employee in ESB earns in excess of €80,000 per annum, and each shares part of 5 per cent ownership of the company.
While a pay cut in these companies will not reduce the public sector pay bill, it should go some way to reducing the high prices consumers and businesses are paying for energy in this country. And the respective unions’ threat of “war” if pay is reduced is nothing but naked mé-féinism, oblivious to the pain and suffering being felt by those who have lost their jobs, and those who have had to take pay cuts, and yet still pay over the odds for energy. – Yours, etc,