Kenny says he will take 5% pay cut
Friday, 10 October 2008 22:15
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has announced he is taking a 5% pay cut next year, as a symbolic gesture.
He was speaking at the launch of Fine Gael's Budget proposals, which include 5,000 voluntary redundancies in the civil service.
The party is also suggesting a freeze on pay rises and increments for those in the public sector earning more than €50,000 a year.
Fine Gael says its proposals are aimed at stabilising State finances while protecting the vulnerable.
The party is also calling for a €1.5bn fee for banks using the State guarantee scheme.
Party leader Enda Kenny said that he has written to the Paymaster General asking for his own pay to be reduced by 5% next year.
He said this would not affect the ISEQ or bring back Lehman Brothers but was a symbolic gesture.
And while he said he was not calling for other TDs to follow his lead, his two colleagues at the news conference, Richard Burton and Kieran O'Donnell, said they would follow suit.
Sinn Féin also published a pre-Budget submission and called for a focus on job creation to get people back to work rather than reliant on welfare.
- Six One News: David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports on Budget proposals made by Fine Gael and Sinn Fein today
- Nine News: David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will take a 5% pay cut for next year as a symbolic gesture
- One News: David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports that FG leader Enda Kenny has asked for a 5% pay cut
- News At One: Enda Kenny, Fine Gael leader, announces he is taking a 5% pay cut next year
- News At One: Richard Bruton, Fine Gael Finance Spokesperson, discusses his party's suggestions for Budget 2009
