Sir, – Your report on pension entitlements of TDs and Ministers is excellent (Colm Keena and Pamela Duncan, Home News, November 9th).
It is incomprehensible to see this Government now tax us to extinction while they continue to feather their own nests.
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin can make all the excuses he likes, but he and his cronies in Government (and opposition) just will not address this issue of exorbitant pensions (and double pensions), yet tell the rest of us that we must tighten our belts till our guts spill out.
The majority of working people lucky enough to be in a pension scheme can expect, on retirement, after 35 or 40 years, a pension of around one third of their final salary, but not a lottery win. For most of us retirement age is 60/65 (soon to be 68) not 50 as is the case for TDs. Enda Kenny promised much but has delivered little.
If this Government is serious about getting this country back on track it must start at the top and this pension gravy train has to come to a halt.
We appear to have no collective sense of outrage at this scandalous behaviour by our so- called leaders. The longer we continue to accept this irresponsible and inequitable practice the longer it will go on.
It’s time for revolt. – Yours, etc,