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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has paved the way for the ministers of Fianna Fáil to accept salary increases of € 2000 next week.
The spoiled politicians are entitled to two salary increases next week, one for being a minister, valued at € 1,590 and another for being a DT of € 1,924.
And Mr Martin told the Irish Mirror that they are “separated” and that asking his well-feathered ministers to give up their TD share salary increase would be a “populist” move.
He added that the best way to reduce wage increases would be through “taxes.”
His comments came after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said today that his Fine Gael ministers will not accept any of the pay increases due next week.
But when asked by the Irish Mirror if the Fianna Fáil gang in government would follow suit, Martin said the two pay raises were separate and indicated that his ministers would be allowed to keep the portion of the TD pay raise.
First he said: “The ministers will not accept the increase.”
But then, when pressed by the Mirror, he asks, “What about TD’s share of their salaries, too?” – Revealed that the TD walk for ministers is there to take.
Martin said: “That is a separate issue, but I mean that in the ministerial there will be no increase.”
The Mirror replied again: “So it’s not clear if they will take the TD portion?”
And the Taoiseach added: “No, I have a long-standing opinion that I believe that the pay level of a TD is tied to that of a Chief Officer (a civil service pay grade) and my opinion is that this was done during 20 odd years takes decision making away from DTs in terms of their own salary and should keep.
“I believe that taxes are the most effective and progressive way to deal with middle and upper income.
“That’s it for me, instead of going the populist route and everyone trying to outdo each other.”
News of the wage increases comes the same week the government cut pandemic benefits for the unemployed, even though the pandemic is long over.
Mr. Varadkar told Claire Byrne at RTE that his Fine Gael ministers in government, for whom he is responsible, will not receive any raise.
The Taoiseach was talking to reporters while visiting Oliver Bond’s flats in Dublin city center, where the infamous ‘rave’ took place on Saturday night.
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