Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has rejected an Opposition suggestion that ministerial pay cuts announced in yesterday’s Budget represented a sleight of hand.
In the Dáil yesterday afternoon, Mr Lenihan announced that Ministers will take a 15 per cent pay cut, while the Taoiseach's pay will be reduced by 20 per cent.
Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton claimed the cuts were deceptive, as they factored in a the 10 per cent cut in ministerial pay already announced in last year's Budget.
Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore claimed the pay cuts were a scam designed to mislead the public. "This 5 per cent is exactly the same reduction in pay that the Government plans to impose on a county council worker or a cleaner earning €30,000 or less per year - less than one-sixth of their own inflated salaries," Mr Gilmore said.
At a press conference in Government Buildings last night, Mr Lenihan rejected the Opposition criticisms.
"A transient voluntary cut is being replaced by a permanent reduction of salary of 15 per cent for ministers and 20 per cent for the Taoiseach,", he said.
This was "one of the largest cuts in the public service".