Wrong target

We can’t recruit nurses or doctors to work in our hospitals, and now Minister Pascal Donohoe wants to target the pensions of low-paid public sector workers.

The majority of these are women who would not have the full 40 years of service due to family commitments.

All pay deduction for their pensions and take 20 years to get on their maximum salary. TDs start at €90,000 so there is no career average for them like Mr Donohoe is proposing for low paid women workers. Plus TDs get various top-ups, including allowance travel, subsistence, expenses, … even mobile phones. They certainly don’t have to work 40 years for a pension. Some get a minister’s pension after two years. Why doesn’t Mr Donohoe target the pensions of all those in the Dáil rather than targeting the low-paid public sector workers?

Mary Doyle,