LIMERICK Sinn Féin senator Joanne Collins has highlighted what she considers an unfairness and double standard that goes on across Ireland.
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Collins criticised news that the heads of CIÉ got a pay increase of €35,000, the head of Bus Éireann an increase of €50,000, the head of Irish Rail €75,000, the National Stud €60,000, and the head of Uisce Éireann €100,000.
All while, she said, there are boil-water notices throughout the country, and towns and villages do not have enough infrastructure within their treatment plants to put any more businesses or houses on public schemes.
“I cannot fathom it,” the Limerick politician hit out.
“It came out a few weeks ago that 10 Ministers had been overpaid. It was only in the media for a day, which was shocking considering no payment plan had been announced. They did not get letters, as the family carers who are struggling every day got a few weeks ago where Revenue were coming back to them stating they owed this much money.
“We have pensioners, carers, and families at home who cannot afford their electricity bills. They cannot afford groceries. Some of them cannot afford to heat their homes with home-heating oil yet the State can afford to give these bumper pay increases to CEOs who are already on huge salaries.”
Senator Collins said she could not understand how these CEOs can get a pay increase when there are boil-water notices in towns and villages and while houses cannot be put into an area because of a lack of infrastructure at treatment plants.
“I would love to have a debate in this House on the wastage of public money and how it can be used for the good of the people of Ireland and not for these CEOs. Some of them are doing a great job, but some of their companies are not being run the way they should be. If they were private companies, those CEOs would be gone,” she concluded.