Sir, – Dan O’Brien is right (Business Opinion, September 20th).
President Higgins needs to be reminded that every cent spent on the trappings of his office is borrowed money that the taxpayers he claims to care so much about have to repay with interest.
If he really had an ethical morality he wouldn’t be accepting a salary of €250,000 per annum, plus tax-free unvouched expenses. Instead, a salary of €100,000 is more than enough for a person who doesn’t have to put his hand in his pocket for seven long years and who became a far wealthier man from his political career, with all the various salaries, pensions and expenses he has received, than if he’d remained with his initial career choice. His demands on the taxpayer make a mockery of his claim that all he seeks is the honour to serve.
I’m tired of listening to hypocrites like Mr Higgins, who turn up at expensive conferences, paid for by the taxpayer, in a top of the range car with all the bells and whistles, who then pontificates and patronises the rest of us about what changes and sacrifices “we” need to make to help the less well off.
Let’s see Mr Higgins and his ilk lead by example and make some sacrifices to lessen the burden he places on the taxpayers of a small bankrupt country. – Yours, etc,
DESMOND FitzGERALD,
Canary Wharf,
London,
England.