Elected politicians are to seek a substantial pay increase when a review of their salary scales is made.
In comparison to private sector workers in similar positions, sitting Dáil deputies are currently underpaid. Adrian McGuinness, managing director of Marlboro Recruitment Group maintains that the number of hours worked by politicians must be taken into consideration.
One could argue that they're 24 hours a day, seven days a week on call.
TDs (Teachtaí Dála) currently earn just under £38,000 a year. They are looking for a rise which would bring them in line with the civil service principal officer grade, meaning an extra £200 per week in the bank.
Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has said politicians should not to ask for pay rises. He reminded other workers however about the danger of such requests, and not to forget that the country was on the brink of bankruptcy not so long ago.
Talks for a new national pay deal are due to begin this autumn, and a Department of Finance spokesperson has told RTÉ News that a salary increase for TDs would not affect the country’s economy.
Adrian McGuinness maintains that remuneration is taken seriously by many considering a career in politics, and
When they find out what the general package is, they are not interested.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 August 1999.
