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SINN FÉIN HAS introduced an across-the-board wage increase for its elected representatives.
The pay hike of €2,500 had been mooted for some time with the mood in the party over the past year suggesting that its policy of paying all members the national living wage was no longer sustainable.
A review of the policy was discussed and agreed at a meeting of the party’s Ard Comhairle in December. A further review of pay within the party is expected to be conducted before the end of the year.
Pay within Sinn Féin is now to be divided into salary bands. It’s understood those bands range from the lowest level of €23,000 to €39,500 for elected representatives.
This represents a €2,500 increase on the average industrial wage of €37,000 previously paid to the party’s TDs.
All of Sinn féin’s TDs currently receive the standard public sector wage for a member of Dáil Éireann of €87,000 (€65,000 for Senators).
“Sinn Féin routinely review party policy and update based on best practice,” party finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said of the pay review.
There was a recognition that the one set-wage policy needed to be reviewed. The new system allows for increments to be introduced in recognition of skills, experience, and levels of responsibility.
Pay restoration
Last November Sinn Féin led a charge against a hike (really pay restoration under the Haddington Road Agreement) of €5,000 in a TD’s salary.
The party’s motion, which Waterford representative David Cullinane sad was in the interests of “fairness”, was defeated however via opposition from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Those pay increases for TDs will be introduced in two tranches – one in April of this year and the next in January 2018. However, the increases have been forfeited by ministers and junior ministers.
Until now Sinn Féin TDs have diverted all earnings above the €37,000 cutoff towards paying the salaries of constituency workers, with a “small sum” also donated to the party.
A party review last August had recommended that the party’s practice of paying its representatives the average wage be concluded.
It’s understood that living and childcare costs in Dublin, as well as retaining key staff, had brought the policy under pressure.
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I’m getting it. 1st time. Everyone should get it this year. €20 quid or so in the chemist.
@Deirdre O C: got it last week chemist said it was free
@Deirdre O C:
€30.00 in boots if you don’t fit into the at risk category or live with someone at risk. Generally they are only giving it to the AT RISK or those that live with an AT RISK person because of low stocks.
I was willing to pay the 30.00 but got it for free because I live with 2 people at risk.
My partner had a local reaction to it last year. But didn’t this year.
I’m in the vulnerable category due to diabetes and other issues so I get it every year and haven’t had so much as a runny nose in at least 5 years.
Won’t need it as we’re all wearing masks
@Rory Mackle: You know masks won’t fill the GSK coffers though!
@LD: toxic comment
@Teresa O’Halloran: Same to you my friend!
@Rory Mackle: The vunerable do need it as we’re not all wearing masks and/or social distancing where appropriate. Hence why Covid19 is spreading again. Not getting it myself as I’m neither a vunerable person nor in regular close contact with vunerable people. With under 2 million total doses for a population of 4.9 million, the vunerable, those in close contact with them and healthcare workers should come first. The remainder can then be sold to those for whom the flu is a nasty inconvenience rather than a life threatening illness.
Anti vaccination crowd will love this
@Mmark Dos Santos Cahill: I don’t think they will.
@Stephen Gaffney: Earth to Steve, he was being sarcastic
@Crocodylus Pontifex: How did you detect his sarcasm and not mine?
Got mine this week. Had it booked since start of September. All good, just a wee bruise at the injection site.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: Wow you must be still on a high from all the excitement! What are you gonna do with yourself now until you can book your next one.
@LD: I’m just glad I was so on top of things. My parents are struggling to get appointments now. And my pharmacy only got in 30 out of over 100 ordered of their first batch, soi was really lucky to actually get sorted already.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: You wouldn’t even book appointments for your parents while you were so on top of things? Mirabelle Stoneheart more like.
@Fandandi: I went to my pharmacy,mum is trying to get it through her gp, and dad is trying to get it through his pharmacy. Three different places. They knew I made my booking, as I told them how convenient it had been, doing it through the sam McCauley app. If they had wanted appointments booked, I’d have had no issue doing that. They wanted their own appointments, at their preferred places.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: Don’t pay any heed to them. The anti-vaxxers are upset you actually got the jab and will use any excuse to have a go at you.
I want a debunking article please. I still can’t get the hang of this thinking for myself stuff
Why did catriona Perry and rte crew travel to the “epicentre ” of the deadly deadly virus today, in Derry
Did tracksuit wearing (thats never seen a track ) Stephen Nolan put them up in his isolation unit
I’ve never seen such unity between North and south
Got my jab last week sixteenth year running never got the flu in that time
@Sean Swords: what?
@Sean Swords: sixteen years running is an awful lot of running… Your legs must be like tree trunks at this stage.
Considering masks, social distance, higher hygiene and lockdown there will be far less flu around than usual. That’s what’s happened in Argentina and Australia earlier this year.
Can we get the Russian Covid-19 vaccine?
@Tony Ember: niet comrade
In the current environment it should be free. I will pay for it but so many can’t x
@Joanne Stack: I got mine free, because my mother, whom I live with, has diabetes and heart disease. They’re kinds throwing them at people this year, if they even dip a toe in a vulnerable category.
Got it last week sixteenth year running never had the in all that time
@Sean Swords: I’ve never got it and haven’t had the flu in my entire 41 years
Nasal vaccine ?? Never heard of that until recently. What does it entail? A needle up the nose or what? Not sure my kids will be doing thst
have your say