Madam, – I finally have to agree, the Government and our banks have actually gone crazy. How can anyone justify the €1.5 million payment made to Richie Boucher’s pension fund? The same Mr Boucher was a senior manager during the period the bank undertook the reckless lending that led to the State having to guarantee their loans and investing vast sums of taxpayers’ money to keep it in business. Now the bank, and its largest shareholder, the Minister of Finance, have agreed an outrageous payment while asking our public servants to accept pay cuts.
In the name of justice, and fair play, this payment must be reversed immediately. The Minister must instruct Mr Boucher that the monies are to be repaid now, and in return a similar payment will be made when he has done his job. That is, when the bank has repaid the monies invested by the State and is lending to Irish businesses in a reasonable fashion. If Mr Boucher accepts, he is just the person to tackle the job. If he does not accept, then he is obviously not the person for the job and must be replaced immediately. – Yours, etc.
WILLIAM O’CONNELL,
Killincarrig,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.
Madam, – Since the Government seems powerless to prevent this pension fund top-up and the bank has cited legal obstacles to it being reversed, it is time for the customers of the bank to engage in some meaningful and effective action.
A starting point is for all Bank of Ireland depositors to move their deposits to other institutions. A complementary action is for all impoverished mortgage-holders to withhold the recent interest rate increase pending the reversal of the payment. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Richie Boucher could do this country a great service.
Not by unconditionally waiving his right to an increased pension, but by putting it up to the same politicians who now criticise him.
Mr Boucher should offer to waive his additional pension when the politicians have committed to waive their “right” to ministerial pensions they receive while still serving as TDs.
The same politicians should also waive their “entitlement” to leave of absence from teaching and other public service posts when serving in the Dáil. – Yours, etc,