Sir, – It remains to be seen whether senior bankers will make a “substantial contribution” to reducing their pay and pensions, as predicted by the Taoiseach.
The record of senior figures in Irish life to such requests historically has not been unanimously generous. Many bankers, senior public servants, trade unionists, judges and even politicians prefer to stress their entitlements or perceived self-worth.
The argument is often advanced that the overall savings would be small. But this misses the massive negative impact on lesser paid colleagues, who seek to follow their leadership.
Token gestures may be made, but there is little incentive to forego remuneration voluntarily, particularly where refusal may be cloaked in anonymity.
Politicians could make a start by ensuring that the extraordinary and anomalous double pension is never paid to any of their teacher members for their time spent in politics, rather than teaching. – Yours, etc,
TIM McCORMICK,
Ontario Terrace,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – In response to public outrage at senior remuneration in the Bank of Ireland, the Taoiseach is reported to have asked those involved to take a substantial and voluntary cut in their own pay and pensions (Home News, April 25th). May I suggest, with the straightest of faces, that herein may lie the basis for a breakthrough in the troubled Croke Park III negotiations. Enda Kenny should ask our thousands of public sector workers to wait a few days for Richie Boucher’s response. Then, all of those public servants would agree to accept, on an equally voluntary and generous basis, a cut of exactly the same percentage level in their own pay and pension provisions. Public-sector pay-bill problem solved. – Yours, etc,
AODH Ó DOMHNAILL,
Green Road,
An Charraig Dhubh,
Co Átha Cliath.