Madam, - Brian Hunt is right to call for
tough decisions from our elected leaders (Opinion, January 8th). Five months ago, Fine Gael called for the pay deal to be suspended, a reduction in the number of junior ministries and Oireachtas committees, an end to decentralisation, and public spending cuts of 3 per cent.
We need a government that governs, not one that avoids decisions or outsources them to An Bord Snip or the so-called social partners. He is incorrect, however, about overnight and mileage allowances paid to politicians. These are paid only to members from outside the Greater Dublin region.
Most of our expenses go on our constituency offices, public meetings, leaflets and telephone bills, not into our pockets. I have published my accounts for 2008 on my website. We should move to a system of vouched allowances. The power to do so lies with the Minister for Finance, not the Oireachtas. The Oireachtas Commission put such a proposal on his desk months ago.
Ten years ago, Germany embarked on a long public spending freeze. The government showed leadership by reducing the size of parliament and cutting costs. We should do the same.
However, in doing so we must realise that cutting the Oireachtas budget by a quarter would save only €40 million. The Government deficit is €20,000 million. It cannot be closed without higher taxes and cuts in pay, some benefits and services. It will take years.
The Government should be honest about this and then go ahead and do it. Honesty and courage are the core qualities of leadership. If the Government won't provide them, Fine Gael will.- Yours, etc,
LEO VARADKAR TD, Leinster House, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Taoiseach Brian Cowen said in recent interviews that he was consulting the social partners before formalising a plan to stabilise the current financial situation.
I suggest there is no need to do this. Speed is of the essence here. We are all far more aware of what is going on than Mr Cowen suspects. We see it every day in massive closures and job losses in the private sector.
The most important thing today is to have a job. Mr Cowen should not contemplate any redundancies in the public services but should immediately scrap the current proposed national wage agreement and introduce a salary reduction of 10 per cent across the board in all public and semi-state jobs.
Our future depends on this, so I look forward to quick and decisive action, of which I know Mr Cowen is capable. Yours, etc,
Dr ADRIAN HONAN, Portarlington, Co Laois