The Government has approved big pay hikes for CEOs of semi-State organisations and the pay increases are substantial. The pay packet of the head of CIÉ is up by €35,000. There is a €60,000 hike for the CEO of the Irish National Stud, a €50,000 pay bump for the chief executive of Bus Éireann, a €75,000 hike for the head of Iarnród Éireann and it has also been reported that a pay increase has been sought for the RTÉ director general, which would bring the salary package for that position close to €300,000. I think we can agree that is good news for the CEOs of semi-State bodies. The contrast with the Government's treatment of working households could not be more stark. These are households, workers and families who count every euro just to make ends meet. Some 1.4 million workers in this State earn less than €45,000 per annum. Can the Taoiseach imagine their disbelief when they see the Government increase the salaries of semi-State CEOs by €60,000 and €70,000, increases far higher that which is earned by those who keep the country going, such as young nurses, gardaí and teachers, those who work in retail, factories and hospitality, cleaners and carers. There is no big pay hike for them. On the contrary, the Government's bumper budget of €9.4 billion abandoned those working people and, in fact, left them worse off. The Government could not find the money to give ordinary workers a break in their income tax. There was no money for a cost-of-living package, no money for an increase in the renter's tax credit, no money to maintain energy credits as electricity bills go up and up and no money to cover the extra cost of living with a disability. The Government left people with disabilities €1,400 worse off, but it could and did find the money for generous tax breaks for developers, landlords and banks and now we know it found the money to deliver bumper pay increase for top brass semi-State executives. Where is the fairness in that? For many workers, wages have been outstripped by relentless price hikes. The daily struggle of low- and middle-income workers to keep their heads above water, look after their children, pay their bills and put food on the table is very real, but the priorities of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in government are clear. The Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will always show up for those at the top. Meanwhile, ordinary working people are taken for granted, brushed aside and short-changed over and over. Níl fadhb ar bith ag Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael ardaithe móra pá a thabhairt do phríomhfheidhmeannaigh i gcomhlachtaí leath-Stáit, ach tagann siad le faic i gcónaí don chosmhuintir. Cá bhfuil cothrom na Féinne ansin? The Taoiseach abandoned ordinary workers in his budget. Can he explain to them how he can stand over big pay hikes for semi-State CEOs when they do not get a red cent of a break on their income taxes?
Sentiment score: 0.10
The actions and decisions of the Government speak for themselves. It is clear for anybody who wishes to see precisely what the Government's priorities are that they are to look after those at the top. We saw that in the Government's €9.4 billion budget - landlords and developers - and now in this decision. It is a decision, approved by the Government, to increase the pay of CEOs. Here is the point of contrast. Some 1.3 million workers, as I told the Taoiseach, earn €45,000 or less. That is half the workforce. I cannot believe the Government is, frankly, so tone deaf and detached from reality that it cannot see the profound unfairness in its actions. It gives pay hikes for one set of privileged workers and nothing for working people. That has landed badly.
Sentiment score: 0.09
As we return for this new year, those families who struggled last year are struggling still on the Taoiseach's watch and he steps by and tries to argue that is not the case. They are living this reality.
Sentiment score: -0.38