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Fianna Fail: At least 12,000 Citizens Earn More than Bertie Ahern
Read more about: Fianna Fail
Well that is good to know, not sure if it qualifies as justification for a payrise that is nearly equal to the average industrial wage though. One would have thought it underlined just how much of an eilte group Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach and leader of the people is joining. Around 12,000 people represents something like .5% of the entire citizenry. Still Mansergh is out on it arguing;
From a reply by the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, TD, to a written question, it is clear that at least 12-13,000 Irish citizens on the basis of 2006 figures will be better paid in 2009 than the Taoiseach and other political office-holders, which puts into perspective some of the recent controversy. They include, of course, a number of persons working at senior levels in the media, business people, professionals, and some higher paid GPs. A vast majority, though not all, would be in more secure employment. Either a lot of the most successful people are overpaid, or it must be accepted in the context of this society that the Taoiseach’s salary is commensurate with his responsibilities, which ultimately are greater than anyone else’s.
PQ is attached for your reading pleasure here.
So in other words Ahern is paid more than around 4,226,848 people in Ireland.
Socialism at its best!
Well i was careful on that one, its technically 2+million (depending on the veracity of the register) since its citizens that Mansergh is referring to but I would think the proportion remains the same Adam.
Well it would be 2m employed persons, wouldn’t it?
I was going by the country’s population, which would also include those who aren’t able to work and are on benefits of some kind or another.
absolutely spot on and it puts him in the top top of earners. There has to be a line between running a state and some sense of public service being done by those of the public. That sort of salary clearly detaches one from the public at large. Is that really all that good a thing?
If Mansergh’s figures are based on tax declarations they are as reliable as Ahern’s statements on his financial transations. Income tax for high earners is, of course, a voluntary contribution rather than a real tax on income.
Gordon DAVIES