Freeze Public Sector Wages Until End of 2010 - Kenny

[pfkf]

Enda Kenny has said that there should be a pay freeze until the end of 2010, FG estimate that this will save €1.5billion. They have also said that any pay cuts should only apply over €100,000.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsneyojcwgb/

Mr Kenny, who was speaking during an Opposition front bench meeting in Maynooth, warned the Government that it would get ’no political absolution’ from Fine Gael for its mismanagement of the economy.

“They deliberately and consciously walked this Government into the economic morass we now find ourselves in.

“This is the Government that is politically bankrupt, morally bankrupt and is now financially bankrupting our country.”

He added: “We are now losing the equivalent of ’five Dells’ every month.

Earlier Minister of State Sean Power offered to relinquish his junior minister’s job which seemed in agreement with a Green Party proposal to remove three of the 20 current posts.

Mr Kenny also claimed that Department of Finance estimates were wrong by €2bn over a four-week period.

“That’s €500m a week. You can’t believe a word out of this Government’s mouth,” he said.

“We are not going to make money in this country by simply selling houses to each other

“We have to get back our competitiveness and become cost effective again,” he added.

[PhoenixIreland]

I don't see how anyone could argue with this proposal, it's common sense.

[seabhcan]

Unfortunately, its not enough.

[pfkf]

Your probably right when you say that it's not enough, but its the start of reform which will lead to our recovery. This policy should be implemented as soon as possible, but it won't happen as FF want to play party politics with people's lives.

[PhoenixIreland]

Your probably right when you say that it's not enough, but its the start of reform which will lead to our recovery. This policy should be implemented as soon as possible, but it won't happen as FF want to play party politics with people's lives.

I'm amazed the people who hired all those unnessicary extra staff (particularly bloating the health service with them while they had a hiring freeze on medical staff and told us we didn't need extra beds despite every report they were given saying we did) are now being asked to fire them or cut their pay.

Did they think the property boom revenue was going to last forever? Did they even think far enough down the line and wonder how they might pay all these people if the bubble burst?

Are we still paying for the rent on those voting machines while were cutting social services?

[mr_anderson]

Enda Kenny has said that there should be a pay freeze until the end of 2010, FG estimate that this will save €1.5billion. They have also said that any pay cuts should only apply over €100,000.

What a joke !
That will make sweet ******************** all difference.
FG have just demonstrated that they are incapable of taking true, hard decisions.

Heres a basic (and much more effective) alternative.
Over 100k - 30% drop
50k to 100k - 20% drop
30k to 50k - 10% drop

Kenny really is a muppet to end all muppets.
Pathetic.

[PhoenixIreland]

What a joke !
That will make sweet ******************** all difference.
FG have just demonstrated that they are incapable of taking true, hard decisions.

Heres a basic (and much more effective) alternative.
Over 100k - 30% drop
50k to 100k - 20% drop
30k to 50k - 10% drop

Kenny really is a muppet to end all muppets.
Pathetic.

He may apply a formula like that when actually in office, but do you remember what happened to the PDs in 1997 when they came up with a radical public sector cuts plan?

[pfkf]

What a joke !
That will make sweet ******************** all difference.
FG have just demonstrated that they are incapable of taking true, hard decisions.

Heres a basic (and much more effective) alternative.
Over 100k - 30% drop
50k to 100k - 20% drop
30k to 50k - 10% drop

Kenny really is a muppet to end all muppets.
Pathetic.

So your solution is to hit people even below the average industrial wage, hit everyone and anyone.

Just like the budget last year, typical FF attitude, hit the elderly, disabled, young, poor and the sick. disgraceful attitude.

You have to make decisions that are firm but fair.

[mr_anderson]

So your solution is to hit people even below the average industrial wage, hit everyone and anyone.

Just like the budget last year, typical FF attitude, hit the elderly, disabled, young, poor and the sick. disgraceful attitude.

You have to make decisions that are firm but fair.

Im being realistic.

Consequently, if you think we are going to get out of this mess without the average industral earner been affected, you're sadly mistaken.
The best thing we can do is hit everyone, but hit the highest earners the hardest.

Incidentially, please tell me how this proposal hits 'the elderly, disabled, young, poor and the sick' .. or is that your definition of the public sector worker ?

[Simbo67]

Its a good start but its not enough. Will need more significant cut in both the wages and the numbers. I note he mentioned nothing about layoffs, I wonder is that he is thinking about?