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28/07/2008
Cutbacks Should Start At Top Says FG TD
A Fine Gael TD has revealed almost €10 million will be spent this year on assistance to the Taoiseach and his Ministers.
The party's spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Rin has released figures showing the Taoiseach and his Ministers will spend €3.7m on special advisers, €3.1m on press officers and €2.9m on constituency staff, a total of almost €10m this year alone.
"At a time of cutbacks, the knife should start at the bloated top where Ministers are surrounded by huge retinues of advisers, press officers and constituency workers. Let's see the Government lead by example and cut some of these jobs instead of taking frontline services away in areas like health and education," said Mr Ring.
The news comes as the government announces a list of cuts in national spending to cope with the economic crises, and revelations that €83 million has been paid to the states county and city councilors in the past year.
A report in an Irish newspaper on Monday exposed the extensive monies paid to councilors who are reported to on average earn €33,347, despite only having a part time role.
Michael Ring said: "These bloated Ministerial offices cannot be immune from cutbacks. The Government tried to pretend that health and education services would not be cut, but with every passing day we hear of more and more services under threat.
"The Government must lead from the front and cut from the top.
"Brian Cowen who led us into the recession costs €1.9m. The Minister for Health who is employing even more consultants this week costs us over €900,000 and the Minister for the Environment who awarded a €1m contract for bat research this week will cost us €800,000 in backup. Its time the Taoiseach and his Ministers got their priorities right."
(DW)
The party's spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Rin has released figures showing the Taoiseach and his Ministers will spend €3.7m on special advisers, €3.1m on press officers and €2.9m on constituency staff, a total of almost €10m this year alone.
"At a time of cutbacks, the knife should start at the bloated top where Ministers are surrounded by huge retinues of advisers, press officers and constituency workers. Let's see the Government lead by example and cut some of these jobs instead of taking frontline services away in areas like health and education," said Mr Ring.
The news comes as the government announces a list of cuts in national spending to cope with the economic crises, and revelations that €83 million has been paid to the states county and city councilors in the past year.
A report in an Irish newspaper on Monday exposed the extensive monies paid to councilors who are reported to on average earn €33,347, despite only having a part time role.
Michael Ring said: "These bloated Ministerial offices cannot be immune from cutbacks. The Government tried to pretend that health and education services would not be cut, but with every passing day we hear of more and more services under threat.
"The Government must lead from the front and cut from the top.
"Brian Cowen who led us into the recession costs €1.9m. The Minister for Health who is employing even more consultants this week costs us over €900,000 and the Minister for the Environment who awarded a €1m contract for bat research this week will cost us €800,000 in backup. Its time the Taoiseach and his Ministers got their priorities right."
(DW)
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Ireland WeatherToday:Showers today, occasional north and west of Lough Neagh, but only a few isolated light outbreaks expected for Belfast and county Down where the best of the winter sunshine is expected. West to northwest winds brisk around the coasts. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers focused across northern areas of the Province, with most in the south staying dry, with a frost developing for many here. Northwest winds fresh around the coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
