Dáil debates

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:32 pm

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred to a 3.8% year-on-year wage increase for workers. What is the rate of inflation? It is more than 3.8%. It is 5.5% and it is rising. The price of diesel is up 26%. The price of electricity is up 21%. Rents are up 8.3% and a lot more than that for many renters. What we have in Irish society is a de facto wage cut for workers. The Taoiseach is standing over that. I do not hear him saying anything that is going to bridge the gap for workers; €100 off the energy bills is not going to cut it.

Let us have a discussion as well about other wages. Robert Watt has €81,000 of an increase. Paul Reid earns €426,000 a year. Peter Jackson of Paddy Power made €8.7 million last year. Albert Manifold of CRH made €11.2 million last year. Three Bank of Ireland executives made more than €1 million each last year. That was signed off by the Department of Finance. The Government is telling workers to suck it up and accept wage cuts at a time when these massive wages are being paid by the top people to the top people. The Fianna Fáil way and the Fine Gael way seems to be one law for them, and one law for the ordinary people. What says the Taoiseach on those points?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.