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THE TAOISEACH’S LEVEL of pay is back in the news today after he told reporters that he is “very much” worth his salary of over €185,000 or around €3,500 per week.
Enda Kenny was speaking at the launch of the government’s Low Pay Commission which will examine the scope for increasing the current minimum wage of €8.65.
During a Q&A, Kenny was asked by the Irish Examiner journalist Shaun Connolly if he felt he was worth his wages.
Connolly made the point that the Taoiseach earns more than the British prime minister David Cameron*, yet runs a country with a population smaller than Yorkshire, which has 5.3 million people.
Kenny’s response was: “Very much so”.
Senator Mark Daly / TwitterThe Taoiseach has defended his €3,500 a week salary, stealing a line from Jennifer Aniston "cause he's worth it" #seanad
— Senator Mark Daly (@SenatorMarkDaly) February 26, 2015
He added that “salaries are down by 40 per cent in the case of the Taoiseach’s. We’ve cut everything to the bone and your question is typical”.
The brief response was a reference to the two pay cuts that Kenny has taken since he came to office in March 2011.
The day after he formed a government, Kenny cut his own pay by 6.6 per cent from €214,187 to €200,000 along with the pay of the Tánaiste and all other ministers.
Under the Haddington Road Agreement in July 2013, Kenny’s pay dropped to €185,350 under the wide-ranging public sector pay cuts for higher earners.
* Although at the current exchange rate, Cameron currently actually earns more than Kenny, around €194,000
Poll: What do you think? Is the Taoiseach worth his salary?
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The man has the intellect and complexion of a can of Fanta.
@Diarmuid: Thats desperately unfair to fanta .
@Diarmuid: you would have a better chance of getting run over by a submarine whilst crossing the road than this guy sorting the mess out.
@Diarmuid: In fairness that has given me a great laugh. Nicely put Diarmuid.
Why make Iran out to be the bogey man?Most of the problems in the area are caused by American plans to destabilise the middle east for the good of Israel.
@Paul Mc: Isreal would have much preferred Assad in Syria than Sunni Jahadi groups there now….Iran proxy army is much more powerful now because of Syria..Hezbollah….If was at behest of Sunni Saudi Arabia and Qatar that Obama armed the moderate Jahadis in Syria not Isreal…
@John003: thank you. A bit of balance around here is welcome.
The Jews are not behind every world conflict as some like to make out.
Save it? Not a chance. Accelerate its demise, most certainly.
Its very doubhtful considering he is more likely to cause a war.
*2 hours later*
*The remains of Jerusalem smoulder as the nuclear ash falls”
NOBODY KNEW PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAS HARD. NOBODY.
Think maybe he will want to build a hotel and golf course there instead.
Ehhh NO
That’s akin to asking can Bell Enda solve Irelands problems.
Well many US presidents have failed before him so no disgrace if his name is also added to the list.
But there again, Donald thinks outside the box so who knows.
Bloody amazing if he did.
Can’t see the Palestinians supporting an alliance against Iran….HAMAS which would win a Palestinian election if there ever is one …..Have big Iranian support….Also Hezbollah is fighting on behalf of Palestinians with Iranian support…..Isreal would not want to get involved in Sunni /Shia religious wars….They have enough problems of their own….
I’d love to see the odds from PaddyPower, accumulator; Trump secures peace in Middle East & Mayo wins All-Ireland. Worth a quid maybe.
Just like Tony blair…
@Dave Thomas: Tony Blair the great Middle East Peace Envoy you mean?
Not if he’s involved.
Sure Tony Blair has it all sorted out already.
What a likeable guy!
According to himself.
You’re asking can this fool sort out the middle east crisis?are you serious?
Can he fack!
I’m sorry , but that is just the wrong question to be asking. Seriously ? He can’t even help himself.
Nope…
Hell no
have your say