Refusal Of Pay Rise Would Be Hypocritical: Cowen

The Taoiseach in waiting, Brian Cowen, has told the Daíl it would be "hypocritical" to not accept the mammoth pay rise he'd expect from his new role.

Mr Cowen will receive €38,000 more per year as Taoiseach, which is €6,000 more than the total average wage.

Mr Cowen said: "There is nothing more hypocritical than seeking to support an independent pay determination system that has served successive governments for 40 years and then walk away from it when a populist argument arises that suits one's case."

When the present finance minister, Mr Cowen, becomes Taoiseach, his salary will rise to €272,000, and will gradually rise to €310,000 over the next three years.

The issue sparked a torrent of criticism in the Daíl, with Labour Party deputy leader Joan Burton asking the Tánaiste if it showed "good authority" to take the salary increases at a time when workers must cope with 5% inflation.

"If we are in a period of greater economic difficulty what moral authority or leadership is shown by the Government which is accepting increases far in excess of what people earn as an average wage? Where is the moral authority in that stance?" she said.

Earlier this week Brian Cowen, in his capacity as Finance minister, delivered a warning message on high wage demands, telling unions it was “self-defeating” to drive wage increases.

He also criticised the exorbitant bonuses being paid to fat-cat executives.

(DW/JM)