Proposed Mayoral Salary Disgracefully High
Press Release
Cllr Dermot Lacey, Labour Party City Councillor for Pembroke-Rathmines and former Lord Mayor of Dublin, has branded Minister John Gormley’s proposals to set the salary of the new Mayor of Dublin at the same level as that of a cabinet minister as disgraceful. He has also reiterated his challenge to Bertie Ahern to engage in a formal public debate as the only other declared candidate for the job.
“The proposed salary for the new Mayor of Dublin is disgracefully high. Setting the salary level so high smells suspiciously like a Fianna Fáil attempt to make the job more acceptable for their only declared candidate, who would surely not want to give up his salary, pensions and appearance fees for a ‘mere’ €100,000 or so.
“There is no need for a €200,000+ salary for the Mayor, just as in all probability there is no need for it for Government Ministers.
“In my view the essential financial element is that the Mayor would have the power and resources to do the job, and the commitment to do it effectively. Setting the salary at that of a Dáil Deputy or Senator would be for me a far more appropriate approach.
“Earlier this week I challenged Bertie Ahern TD to a debate on the Dublin mayoralty. Deputy Ahern and I are the only two people to have publicly declared our candidacies for our respective parties’ nominations. We need to have a substantial debate on the powers and resources the new Mayor will have before the legislation is set down. I will debate the issues with Deputy Ahern any time he likes.
“I’ve been campaigning for a directly elected Mayor of Dublin since I first got involved in politics twenty years ago. I’m still committed to making it happen. Dublin needs a Mayor committed to Dublin. I want to be that Mayor.”
I have to agree that the proposed salary is high and I’m sure there will be a fat expense account also. I note your highlight of FF use of the term ‘mere’ in relation to a €100,000 salary package.
It is the issue of expenses, particularly councillors expenses that needs to be discussed and debated at this point as we are in the middle of an election.
The system seems quite opaque and perhaps it would be better for you to publish your own expenses, which you claimed are ‘derisory’ before demanding a debate on a subject yet to be legislated for.
Furthermore, pinpointing Mr Ahern as a contender and seemingly ruling out others works against open debate and democracy -something I believe Dubliners are crying out for.