Madam, – I understand with dismay that the seven former junior ministers are due to receive up to €52,000 in compensation for loss of office and will revert back to a salary of €100,000. Statutory redundancy would entitle them to only two weeks’ pay for every year worked, and since they have held office for less than one year, a payment of €1,000 would be more fitting. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – The concept of paying TDs an annual long-service bonus, for a career which ideally should be a political vocation, is both vulgar and crass.
I have been employed by the same private company for more than 11 years, and have experienced major corporate restructuring, a company takeover, and have survived at least seven or eight rounds of redundancies. My long-term service bonus is paid every month. It’s called a salary. – Is mise,
Madam, – The current recession in Ireland and in the rest of the developed world has made many of us think that there must be a better way to approach the global economic future than rushing to get things back to pre-recessionary times, ie, ongoing cycles of boom and bust.
The leaders of the developed world must think outside of the box for a sustainable global economic plan. Having considered this, I offer the following economic plan:
1. Each country in the top 100 of developed nations would sponsor a country from the third world. The sponsorship would be between countries of a similar geographical and population size.
2. The sponsorship would be voluntary between both countries and would be based on a five-year renewable contract which either country could opt out from at the end of each contract.
3. The sponsorship would involve financial support (50 per cent) of the developed country’s foreign aid budget), raw material exchanges, free movement of both populations for employment, education or vocational work, but not for social welfare payments.
4. The sponsorship would not involve military assistance of any kind.
In addition, where a developed country is in recession, the sponsored country could provide a ready outlet for builders and other professions to use their talents and skills.
I strongly believe if this sponsorship approach were accepted on a global basis, developing countries would benefit greatly. The current approach of dividing aid to numerous countries is clearly not having a long-term sustainable impact on the underdeveloped world.
Perhaps Bob Geldof and Bono could consider this option for the future?
Not only could it improve the lives of millions of people in developing countries, it could also throw a lifeline to the ailing economies in the developed world. Yours, etc,
Madam, – I am on a business trip to the US, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that Ireland’s economic difficulties are becoming headline news here, culminating in the recent headline “Erin go broke”.
While there is no getting away from the fact we are in difficulty, the news stream out of Ireland is so negative that we are in danger of irrevocably damaging the reputation of Ireland Inc. I fear that many of Ireland’s competitors and detractors are seeking to take full advantage of the negative news flow.
The Government, non-Government politicians, the media and indeed all citizens have a responsibility to project a more positive and realistic image of our situation and capabilities. If we continue to pillory ourselves in such a public way, then we will have no one to blame but ourselves when investors seek to take their dollars and euros elsewhere. – Yours, etc,