Brian Cowen salary increase ?

gqma0

Did I miss something here ?

Last March, Brian Cowen salary was reported by the financial times as €257000
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/eee43b4e-1779-11de-8c9d-0000779fd2ac.html

Now, his salary is reported as €285583 according to the irish independent
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/budget/cowen-will-take-14pc-salary-cut-to-share-pain-1966169.html

That's 11% higher than 9 month ago.

Can someone explain me if that's an increase on his base salary or if additional bonuses and other benefits in kind are taken into account. If that's an increase, there's a real problem in Ireland.

Hard to believe the facts in the newspaper these days

ei.sdraob

edit: i see, sneaky bastard

deadhead13

The FT seems to take account of the 10% reduction announced in the mini-budget, whereas The Independent doesn't. I think there is a degree of spin going on here. The leaked figures where aimed at getting the headlines that Cowen is taking a 20% reduction in salary, where in fact he will be taking a further 10% cut. The 1% difference could be down to incremental increases.

CamperMan

and here's me reading the Sunday Times yesterday and thinking Cowen was doing great by taking a whopping 20% pay cut :mad:

seamus

A Department of Finance source said the salary figures quoted in the higher level remuneration report were based on the official salaries and did not take account of voluntary pay cuts.

So how much is he actually getting paid?
Government salaries and some PS salaries can be hard to quantify though because there are all sorts of allowances and crap added on. So two sources might quote two different figures which are both "correct" for a TD's salary.

Dannyboy83

So according to the indo, the most unsuccessful leader in Western Europe, Brian Cowen is easily the highest paid leader in Europe.

Welcome to the baNAMA republic.

Intriguing.

bmaxi

He'd need to take a 100% cut before he's paid what he's worth. Jesus, it makes my blood boil when I hear all this cra*p about politicians and their "pay cuts", boo-hoo, they are grossly overpaid to begin with. Even if Cowen does take a €25000 cut, that's a significant wage for the average worker and he's still left with 90% before expenses grrr. What is never factored in is that these guys rarely have to put their hands in their own pockets.

Riskymove

the actual salary of Taoiseach is the €285000 odd figure

all the Cabinet took a 10% voluntary cut meaning he has been paid 10% less since

however the Report on higher remuneration is obviously looking at actual salary scales in coming up with recommendations and not what individuals may have voluntaroly forgone to date

so the 20% will come off the €285,000 figure

thats not to say he wont voluntarily forgo more than that

gqma0

It's still amazing, in the actual circumstances, that he's still better paid than Merkel, Sarko and Brown.

His salaries and other TDs is what revolts me the most.

I'm not starting a rant but the figures between the newspaper makes one wonder.

Riskymove

gqma0 wrote: »

It's still amazing, in the actual circumstances, that he's still better paid than Merkel, Sarko and Brown.

His salaries and other TDs is what revolts me the most.

I'm not starting a rant but the figures between the newspaper makes one wonder.

its definitely been a big issue, often overlooked

the areas covered by the Higher Remuneration group have seen large increases and differentials over the last while

ArmaniJeanss

gqma0 wrote: »

It's still amazing, in the actual circumstances, that he's still better paid than Merkel, Sarko and Brown.

Its consistent with the rest of the countrys wages though.

Every teacher/guard/carpenter/plumber/shopworker/doctor/accountant earns more than their equivalent in Germany or France or the UK; so why should it have been any different for our politicians?

They are in a bit of a bind though, whatever reduction they take will not be good enough and will generate more negative publicity. 50% and people will still want more.

As Malcom Tucker said to the new mininster (rough quote as i can't find the exact script) "they don't want you earning any money, they don't want you living in a big house, they'd be happy if you lived in a fcuking cave"

irish_bob

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Its consistent with the rest of the countrys wages though.

Every teacher/guard/carpenter/plumber/shopworker/doctor/accountant earns more than their equivalent in Germany or France or the UK; so why should it have been any different for our politicians?

They are in a bit of a bind though, whatever reduction they take will not be good enough and will generate more negative publicity. 50% and people will still want more.

As Malcom Tucker said to the new mininster (rough quote as i can't find the exact script) "they don't want you earning any money, they don't want you living in a big house, they'd be happy if you lived in a fcuking cave"

as the dunne stores add says , were different cause were irish

Altreab

CamperMan wrote: »

and here's me reading the Sunday Times yesterday and thinking Cowen was doing great by taking a whopping 20% pay cut :mad:

Whats more interesting is that the highest paid Secretary Generals in the Civil Service take home €285,000 AFTER a €43,000 cut (cut recommended by the "Review Board of Higher Renumeration" ). This means that there are a number of people in the Civil Service who earn a LOT more than any of the present goverment.



Source: Front Page of the Sunday Business Post 06/12/2009

holly1

He will never have to worry about having enough to pay an ESB bill or if he can afford coal for the fire!!

Overheal

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

So according to the indo, the most unsuccessful leader in Western Europe, Brian Cowen is easily the highest paid leader in Europe.

Welcome to the baNAMA republic.

Intriguing.

its funny because Sarkozy is compensating again

nesf

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

Get rid of all non-Eurozone leaders there. The strong Euro makes a false impression. Also without adjusting for PPP it's a meaningless comparison.

/nit picking

monkeypants

bmaxi wrote: »

these guys rarely have to put their hands in their own pockets.

That's it exactly. Free car and driver. Everything expensed. He could have a great life without a salary at all.

ParkRunner

Altreab wrote: »

Whats more interesting is that the highest paid Secretary Generals in the Civil Service take home €285,000 AFTER a €43,000 cut (cut recommended by the "Review Board of Higher Renumeration" ). This means that there are a number of people in the Civil Service who earn a LOT more than any of the present goverment.



Source: Front Page of the Sunday Business Post 06/12/2009

TD's are linked to the Principal Officer grade in the civil service so it's no surprise that Secretary General's are paid higher. They do have incredible responsibility and you will only attract the best if you pay well. Either way their pay will be cut shortly before I'm lynched

Sand

TD's are linked to the Principal Officer grade in the civil service so it's no surprise that Secretary General's are paid higher. They do have incredible responsibility and you will only attract the best if you pay well.

Given the shambles the country is in, we have not attracted the best by paying astronomical wages. It would seem there is no real link between the wages paid and the performances received in the public sector which is heavily unionised. IIRC, Secretary Generals are recruited exclusively within the civil service, with no external advertisement? Hence, we are marking their pay to some of the best managers and directors in the private sector, without any threat of the civil servants having to face the challenge of competion for those jobs from the best managers and directors in the private sector.

I believe someone summarised it as paying Giovanni Trapattoni wages for Steve Staunton performances. If all we are getting is Steve Stauntons, we might as well adjust pay packets to match.

monkeypants

Nothing new here. It's similar to Mary Hanafin and Batt O'Keefe announcing the same school building programmes over and over again.