Madam, - The Government is continually reminding the social partners of the importance of competitiveness as they start negotiations on a new national wage agreement. Are similar exhortations being made to the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Service, which has just begun a major review? In the past, this body made comparisons with Irish private-sector jobs, but this time it should also consider similar public sector jobs in other comparable economies. Much of the data required for this work is published on the internet. But there are gaps.
For example, copious material about the current salaries of British MPs can be found on the Westminster website but the Oireachtas website contains no relevant information on TDs' pay. For the record, and to illustrate the obvious disparities, TDs now earn between 2 per cent and 9 per cent more than their UK counterparts, even though the Dáil meets for only about 60 per cent of the sitting time of Westminster and TDs effectively serve only a quarter of the number of constituents covered by MPs.
Likewise, Irish Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State earn between 1 per cent and 5 per cent more than their UK counterparts, though they govern a state that is no larger than some counties in the UK. Is it any wonder the Irish information is hard to find?
If broader study confirms that other top-level salaries are also completely uncompetitive, the review body must confront the "appalling vista" of salary reductions to maintain competitiveness. Of course, they must take account of our recent economic progress. In doing so, it should also note that many key public services - health, law and order, transport and infrastructure - have been so ineptly led and inefficiently managed that major achievements in other areas have been negated.
When establishment figures speak of international competitiveness, they should practise it themselves. For a start, the Review Body on Higher Remuneration should be instructed to take account of and publish international comparisons when it devises new salary levels. This approach should also apply to the forthcoming benchmarking review.
In addition, the negotiators of the next national wage agreement should review the practice of setting percentage rather than absolute wage increases. This only widens the gap between the top and bottom grades and can result in senior office-holders receiving wage increases as large as average wages earned at the bottom.
A race to the top can be just as destructive for the national interest as the "race to the bottom". - Yours, etc,
BRIAN FLANAGAN, Ardmeen Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin.