# 41

Posted: 28/10/2009 20:06

As a healthcare worker, i  recieved an email today from our national director of human resources asking basically for us to accept an increased need for flexibility and ignore the unions.

I am in the union, although at times i do believe they are greedy and ask far too much.  At the same time i understand that right now our country is a mess.  If someone could tell me that if i took a pay cut our healthcare service provision within this country would improve i would say yes without a second thought.  Unfortunately no-one can promise this, and as long as Ms Harney is in charge it isnt going to happen.

We were asked for flexibility and continues provision of the optimum care possible.  Well i must say, if anyone went into a hospital and spent a day with myself in radiography, or colleagues within other departments they would realise we are flexible and resiliant.  We have been waiting for new machines, more staff, new departments and they have never come.  Patient numbers are continuing  to increase due to our aging population and we are falling behind.  I trained in my job like most of my colleagues because I WANT to HELP the ill and I want to contribute to society and i always will.

Like all corners of our present society, rather than axing peoples salary and taking the easier options.  Our government should be trying to ultilise there gray matter abit more.  Areas such as the overlap between patients jumping from private to public health care with so called 'public consultants'.  Would be the first issue on anyones list who actually knew anything from the ground.

I do not want to go on strike, but if the government keep taking the easy options then potentially we will cover this years budget but what happens next year and the year after.

The grass roots of the medical system needs to be seriously looked at.

A further point, and I am terribly sorry for writing so much.  As a healthcare workers at this present time we are extremely fortunate that our skills our required.  But we are not seperate from the rest of society.  At 22 years of age, I also work a few shifts in abar as I am paying off my student loan, helping my parents with their mortgage as due to such times they have both been laid off and am trying to help my brother through univeristy.   If i didnt love Ireland as much as i do, i would leave like many of my friends from univeristy have already done.

Thanks

# 40

Posted: 24/10/2009 08:51

Can anyone answer me this? With the swine flu starting to really hit ireland and claiming lives this week ( a little 14 year old boy yesterday), why are we left waiting on the injection when it is already ready for roll out??  Is this down to cut backs or the health service picking and choosing who lives and dies?? or indeed putting their foot down about the upcoming pay cuts? Shame on anyone who has the authority to push the boat out and get this jab to people who need it asap..The health service can hang their heads in shame, we see the packets of vacine on tv ready but where is it?? Is this the way its going to be ? Holding back a life saving service to debate the pro's and con's of a 'pay cut'?????

Pet

# 39

Posted: 23/10/2009 15:33

Any projections on what the December massacre will be like? How far can they push us?

# 38

Posted: 20/10/2009 23:41

Not sure if the current ballot for strike action is dealing solely with pay cuts or is it a protest at wider cuts in services as well. When front line staff are not being replaced and people have to work in situations which are blatently hazardous(visit a local casualty department at the weekend for the experience) they are bound to get fed up. I would have said strike is not the way in the current climate but with 1.4 million bonuses being paid to the HSE seniors and ceo-it really is difficult to blame workers for striking. They already see vulnerable patients suffering and being denied services and I'm not convinced that striking or not striking is going to alter this situation dramatically.

I believe there is another way as a previous post had outlined-it's called leadership-first from Mary Harney by grabbing control of the situation in relation to bonuses and being brave enough to intervene and not abdicate her responsibility. Second from Drumm and co. by accepting they get paid enough and can't possibly expect workers to accept a pay cut while he justifies a bonus for himself-when that happens people might start to believe 'we're in this together'-until then I suspect the term 'let them eat cake' will ring true for many and fuel the palpable anger that is obvious to all.

# 37

Posted: 19/10/2009 19:02

Hi buzz I agree the Elderly and Sick should not have to pay for the mess this country is in.  I never had a second home and all the holidays abroad that went with the celtic tiger (so called) My husband worked hard all his life we reared our family with just the basics,  Now they are all grown up and we had the chance to have a little something extra.  I had a part time job for four years and I have a disability.  A year ago my job went, my husbands job is just about keeping us afloat.  So here we are the so called golden years.  In the last recession we lost our home but I was luckey to inherite my family home some years later.  If I had not we still would not have a home.

When we lost our house no government or banks would help us.  But it seems to me that every one wants to be pulled out now all on the bit of tax that myself and my husband paid and many more people over the years.  If I could get a job now I would not complain about paying extra tax it is just a fact of life.  Mind you I agree with everyone that the government should be made pay for their mistakes and all the banks and big business men.  What has happened is a disgrace and I am sorry I did not leave this country years ago.  So I wonder now will the government see to it that people with disabilities who want to work will get it.  Believe me despite my third level qualifications and all the other skills and qualifications which I gained over the years did not stand to me.  I gained quite a lot of interviews but once it was realized I had a disability the employer found some excuse to let me down.

This is the Ireland we live in once you are down there that is more than likely where you stay so I do feel sick when I see social welfare fraud, government fraud and all the trash we were lead to believe that was fed to us during the boom.   So lets get real now we must all the honest and disadvantaged people work together to sustain this country of ours and I will be proud to do so and wont complain as long as my children have a decent life and my grandchildren, may they never be discriminated against or ever do wrong to others.  Also be grateful for what they have got.

# 36

Posted: 17/10/2009 12:30

  PAY CUTS A PROBLEM, BUT HARNEY WANTS EVERYONE TO  IGNORE THE REAL ISSUE HERE , SHE IS NOT UP TO THE JOB SHE WAS MANDATED TO TAKE UP,  ANYONE WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMING INTO CONCACT WITH THE SICK AND DYING KNOW FIRST HAND ON AN ONGOING BASIS JUST WHAT A SHAMBLES  THE HEALTH SERVICE IS IN, IN ALL CONSCIENCE THE HEALTH CARERS MUST TAKE CARE OUR SICK, STRIKING WILL MAKE YOU WHO TAKE PART AS UNCARING AND  UNINTRESTED IN THE NEEDS OF THE MOST VONURABLE IN A SICK SOCIETY AS MINISTER HARNEY HERSELF IS, USE THIS TIME WELL ALL, THERE ARE SICK AND DYING EVERYWHERE WHO WITH SUPPORT OF FAMILYS AND FRIENDS WILL SUPPORT ANY PETITION YOU SET UP WITH SIGNATURES   AND ANY SUPPORT REQUIRED .  WHAT IS NESSARY  IS  DEMAND THAT A HEALTH MINISTER NOT UP TO A JOB RESIGNS NOW OR BE SHAMED INTO IT, YOU HOLD THE POWER WITH THE PEOPLE WHO COUNT BEHIND YOU, ALL ACROSS IRELAND, WE JOE PUBLIC HAVE HAD ENOUGH WE DONT WANT OUR SICK AND DYING USED BY ANYONE ANYWHERE,A STRIKE  MAY OR MAY NOT PREVENT PAY CUTS, BUT WILL FURTHER HURT OUR SICK. THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY.

# 35

Posted: 14/10/2009 08:49

As regards Mary and others saying that taking strike action is not the way to go and we should all pull together.

While I agree with others as to the cause of our economic downturn and moral bankruptcy, however as regards pulling together, the presenst govt and the social climate they have created, for example encouraging people to report on others for minor irregularatories, annoyong nasty bans, small businesses being pesteted by beaurocratic interference, and inspections by the health and safety nazis and insurance companies, is not very harmonious to a society and also when many people do not know their neighbours, does not make it very conducive to pulling together.

Its ironic that when John O'Donoghue is caugh with his snout in the trough he blames his accusers for his demise.

So pulling together in my opinion will eventually mean that the working class, like in the past, will end up having to pull together to take the necessary action while the higher archy still lord it over us.

# 34

Posted: 13/10/2009 16:19

Hi Mary of course and apologies if I over reacted. Indeed I grew up during the celtic tiger and although we were not what you would call rich, I certainly did notice the trend of materialism and instant gratification that it brought about. I remember applying for a credit card straight out of college for a laugh (so sure was I that I would be refused!) and two days later they sent a lovely piece of plastic in the post with €3000 capacity on it...I still regret accepting it! It is true, years ago when people wanted something it was normal to "do without" and save up for it. You saved for a car, saved for a holiday (if you were lucky!) and took part in "Christmas clubs" where you started saving in January! I think a lot of people fell into the trap of going overboard at Christmas and seeking out overdrafts or credit limit increases in an attempt to cover ever increasing costs of present and food shopping at this time of year, and then spend the next six months paying for it (literally).

There is of course a huge amount of keeping up with the Jones that goes on (or certainly it did in the past few years) - designer dogs that no more carried out their original intended funtion such as hunting, sniffing, herding or retrieving than the four wheel drives carried out THEIR intended function of cross terrain travel.

Perhaps this is why we have such huge levels of personal debt?

# 33

Posted: 12/10/2009 21:12

Certainly don't think strike action is the best way forward, have never been on strike and certainly would not start now.  Seen the devastation it can cause, lived through the miners strike in Yorkshire in the 80's, you needed to be there. 

Unions are so very 1960's, militant and ever eager not to see the other sides point of view.  We all need to work together to get through these bad times. 

Buzz, maybe I didn't make myself clear, I certainly have no worries over people living in 'nice' houses, have one myself, and having a car, have one myself (live out in the country and I too need to get to work), what I was trying to say is that maybe we all wanted so much so quickly, and the banks were very quick to give it to us so willingly at a time when a recession wasn't even on the agenda.

# 32

Posted: 12/10/2009 20:57

Well, we are NOT all to blame.  Most of us heard of the Celtic Tiger (Silly name!), without actually feeling its benefit. Our masters told us how well off we were, while THEY were filling their pockets. I think that I and many others, if not most of us, wondered where all this wealth was, where all this E.U. money was being spent.  We ought to have seen a network of motorways linking all our major cities; new and adequate hospitals for public healthcare, new schools and schools replacing those unfit for our childrens'use, proper provision for healthcare for our elder citizens.

Money was here, we were assured. Wealth beyond our wildest dreams. We were the leaders, the most wealthy, the most successful!

Now comes the fall demanded and caused by hubris.  Not ours, but that of our leaders. we elected and re-elected them.

The wealth has eluded us.

It came and stuck, before it reached us.  The Golden Circle shines brighter.  Our loss has been their gain. 

Ask yourselves; Who has welcomed the creation of NAMA?  What sectors have raised no objection to its creation? There you have the answer to the beneficieries of our Golden Years.

We have plunged our children and possibly our grandchildren into debt. That is our guilty legacy and our shame.  How many of us will see the debt discharged?

Sleep should not come easy to the perpetrators of this national disgrace whose immorality and greed have reduced us to the begging bowl!

# 31

Posted: 12/10/2009 19:57

Q. why in God's name should ordinary hard working health workers have to pay for the mess made by this government , bankers and loony developers who got too greedy

Answer, whether you crashed into a car or it crashed into you does not change the fact that the crash happened and consequences follow. The State can't afford to keep spending at the rate it is. At some point the international community will stop lending to Ireland if we don't get our house in order.

As a public servant I have no desire to have my salary cut but I recognise that when I can no longer afford something I must make a choice - increase the amount of funds I have or look at something cheaper. The country has limited ability to raise it funds (increase taxes) hence it must look for something cheaper and as salaries of public servents are the biggest cost the State has it needs to cut them. 

At the end of the day it comes down to increase the funds and or reduce costs. If you want the most people employed then you have to cut salaries otherwise cut the numbers employed.

I find it nuts that benchmarking is viewed as only resulting in upward pay awards. When unemployment is 10% plus and deflation is -5% plus can one really expect anything other than a cut across the board.

For those of us old enough to be paying a reduced rate of PRSI we should acknowledge that one aspect of putting public servants on the full rate enabled the State to sack its employees. How long before that option is the preferred route as opposed to pay cuts. 

A realist

# 30

Posted: 12/10/2009 19:32

It's refreshing to read some views expressing how everyone is in this together-I'm so sick of hearing the private versus public debate. There are low and high paid public service workers and this also applies in the private sector. If there are any cuts it has to start at the top and our latest revelation of €750 000 for jet hire by our minister for health is probably just too bitter a pill to swallow for most people public or private, as our healthcare system falls to pieces. Personally, I can accept a tax increase/levy or call it what you like if everyone on the same wage as me across the country is treated the same. What I won't accept is paying for gala dinners in the Taj Mahal hotel, extortionate government jet expenses by someone who'd be better off in her office keeping an eye on things, and politicians pining over those who have got caught and blaming the system as if any of them were dragged into Limos kicking and screaming. When politicians start paying back fraudulently claimed expenses and stop treating us all like a bunch of idiots, I'll be ready to tolerate cuts/taxes. It's up to the government to cop on or lose any remaining credibility that they have.

# 29

Posted: 12/10/2009 18:22

Hello all,

I see that a lot of posters are giving a mention to  BENEFIT FRAUD, and rightfully so.   THIS IS THEFT !

Who is tro blame for this ???

Well certain high level servants of the state, thaught it a good idea to add a couple of layers of underlings, to "raise" their management position, and have even less to do, as the work could be delegated out even more thinly.

The "front line" workers at the employment exchange hatches were also encouraged to do less,,, this was when there were a minimum of unemployed !

So the unemployed were then COMPELLED to only "sign on", once a month, as compared to once a week.

This lowered the work burden, and things got even more lax.

The "flying squad" people in the "welfare fraud" department, also dropped their survalence, and stopped checking for those who were "working and signing", and this gave the opertunity for open abuse of the system.

This cannot change, until staffing returns to previous levels, an survalence is re instated !

During the tigre years, this system of extra layers of supervision was rife, giving rise to not only more people on the payrole, but more layers of management to receive bonuses.

This is obvious in all the government "offices". and the main reason for the "other " front line staff to be overworked. [and underpaid ]

There was one incident recently where a large  number of "cross border" workers Gawere held up at a northernly checkpoint, where Social Welfare, Custome, and  Garda, were on duty to check on building workers who were coming South to sign on.

These were men of various ages, who had been working in the republic, for Irish companies, Paying Tax, and PRSI for many years, and playing their part in the economy of the State !

This was a redundant exercise, for the majority, who were fully entitled to claim on their deductions,,,, a few were caught who had been signing on for many years on both sides of the border.   These should have been caught years ago !!!!

This was an exercise to try to spread the BLAME,,, it just showed up the lack of survalence which was allowed to dwindle, when there was a boom in the economy.

Workers in all sections of the economy, are the people who are keeping the country going, If their wages are cut,,, there will be even less,,, funds available to run the economy.

Peter  47

-

ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO PREVAIL... IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. Peter 47

# 28

Posted: 12/10/2009 15:45

Tootsie I am not one of those people who has a second home, holiday home, flash car, exotic hols etc etc but I will still say that you cannot blame these people for the health crisis which is affecting our sick and elderly. nor can you place them in the same category as those who commit benefit fraud (and indeed on that note reports of benefit fraud have increased over a hundred fold since the recession began so its good to see the public saying no to this ind of thievery)

# 27

Posted: 12/10/2009 15:41

Mary there are people living in those "nice" houses who are doing so because they have to put a roof over their family's head. They need the cars to get to work to put food on the table. It is not their fault these necessities (and yes I would call a roof over ones head and a means to make money to survive a necessity) were overpriced to the max. How can you say that this caused the recession? What were people supposed to do? Sleep at the side of the road until developers were forced to drop their house prices? They would have been left there! And renting was just as bad, the only difference being that the rent was essentially "dead" money.

# 26

Posted: 12/10/2009 13:15

Chris

It depends - If there are going to be cuts from the top down, then no, strike action is not merited. But if the only cuts are going to be among front-line workers and this is going to naffect patient care - them maybe, yes, protest is merited.

# 25

Posted: 12/10/2009 09:00

Of course we should pay and not strike we in the health sector have had it too good for too long. It's been a great ride for the last 15 years and I for one have had a ball, cant afford a house so have to rent, driving a 6 year old car thats not paid for, two holidays in 8 years, paid to do my own degree (above what is required for my job) with no help from employer, trying monthly to balance the books etc. Its time everyone shut up and stopped blaming the public sectory for everything.

I work dam hard every day to porvide services to patients but do we ever get praise NO! Be careful Joe Public you really might get the service you are asking for by cutting cutting cutting!

# 24

Posted: 11/10/2009 22:44

I don't think they should take strike action as our health service is in such a bad way and taking strike action is only putting the sick out in the cold. The cost of strike action will only result in people dying and getting sicker. I do support them having a better deal but it is called the caring profession and I think they are missing the point. I am a full time carer for my dad and was for my mum who passed from cancer. I don't have the option to down tools and they shouldn't. I f it boils down to money ..get another job...I can't and wouldn't at least they have the option..I've sat in hospitals where the so called caring profession walked past a person who was dying and left them on their own because they were elderly , so I'm sorry if I don't have any compassion for them . You took an oath to look after the sick , and have always been well paid for it.The country is in a recession and even what they are losing is nothing to what the average person is losing. Try living on a carers earnings.

Pet

# 23

Posted: 11/10/2009 09:00

Read TANGIO in these views or comments.  My views are similar. The Union bods should read this carefully and abide by the advice given

# 22

Posted: 11/10/2009 00:30

Of course they're right.  There are a lot of very poorly paid workers in the health service who have already taken a pay cut in the form of a pension levy even though some of them aren't even entitled to a pension.  Anyway, wages are protected by law and can't be changed without agreement.  If everyone rolls over at every daft proposal from this Government, the ruination of the country will continue. 

# 21

Posted: 10/10/2009 23:35

I am a health care worker and i feel the unions will have to find another way rather than striking.  I could not see myself abandoning those in need of care.

# 20

Posted: 10/10/2009 22:31

No, I don't think there should be any strikes.  Like all good turkeys we should just vote for Christmas.

# 19

Posted: 10/10/2009 17:18

I must agree with tangio everyone is responsible in one way or another.  Look at all the social welfare fraud going on in communities over the years and for some reason these people seem to think that they should have it good.  Time to get real get back to basics, less cribbing and blaming.  If you are honest and work hard you will never be without and lets forget about the boom rat race that went on .  All the lovely holiday homes, holidays and second cars that people wanted.  Life is not about this.

At the end of the day the ones that will suffer because of fraud in the community and government fraud will be the elderly, disabled and sick so anyone who chooses to partake in fraud in social welfare remember you will have no luck for this.

# 18

Posted: 10/10/2009 17:07

Moved to Ireland in 2001, couldn't believe the amount of domestic building that was going on, so I agree, we are all to blame, nice houses, nice cars, good wages (earn more here than I would in the UK by at least €10,000, not my reason for coming I might add).  The recession is international, but could have been handled better here.  However, so far none of the levvies we are paying  are going toward getting the developers out of trouble, the state is borrowing millions a week just to pay all of us in the public sector, to keep all the public services going (schools, hospsitals, disability services etc etc etc).  I earn good wages yes, but am willing to take my pay cuts to help us all get out of this mess.  I would rather have less in my pay packet and be assured that I still have a job. As a public sector worker I am also getting fed up with people going on about the wages we receive, I'm sure that most of the general non public workers would want qualified professionals looking after thier loved ones, I have been qualified for over 25 years, upgrade my skills regularly, do not get any incentives for this, have to account for every cent I spend from my allocated budgets, get no travelling expenses and as a manager do not get paid overtime or premium payments for working evenings or weekends. 

# 17

Posted: 10/10/2009 16:34

I feel the hands on workers are worth all they get - but the fat cats at the top of the tree should be cut!

# 16

Posted: 10/10/2009 10:37

All workers should not accept pay cuts until they see pay cuts coming from the top first. 

How dare this inept and EU hugging govt, and their equally guilty opposition parties, tell ordinary people 'do what I say but not as I do'. 

Not one of these geezers had the decency to take a pay cut themselves until they were forced into it by the media and not one of them has come out and admitted that their huge expenses are wrong.

It is this type of behaviour by people in power and lofty positions that caused the french revelotion.

If the economy gets worse or if our poverty levels increase, politicians better take to the hills.

As this govt and the opposition parties, with the exception of SF, have now handed this country over to the EU I think its time we had a new political party.

I hope someone like Declan Ganley forms a new party to help us "going forward".

# 15

Posted: 10/10/2009 01:51

Yes, I think they WOULD be justified in taking strike action.

The problem is not of their making. Equally, we as the public, are certainly not getting anything like the service to match what we are paying.

The HSE has been a disaster both in terms of patient care and management of health services. I would go further and say that Harney and Drumm, in their fiscal focus, are guilty of such gross mis-management that people have died and  will do so on their watch.

That is not the fault of the workers. 

# 14

Posted: 10/10/2009 01:09

It is time for health workers to get real, we all need to take serious the poor state of the country.Strikes are the last thing we need.

Luckey 

# 13

Posted: 09/10/2009 23:10

Having witnessed the behaviour of a few nurses in waterford regional recently I am surprised that they are still on the pay roll. If they were in a private hospital they would have been sacked long ago for their rudeness and lack of care for their patients. Giving them a degree may have been a mistake as some of them feel it makes them more than mere mortals. To these few ,nursing is about the money and nothing to do with the duty of care..My apologies to the majority of the staff who are excellent nurses. No I don't think anyone merits pay cuts but all should be satisfied with what they have.

# 12

Posted: 09/10/2009 22:27

Hello all.

Why should any "worker" be asked to take a cut in salary  ??

The front line medical staff who are contemplating going on strike are indeed deserving of a pay rise which they are OVERDUE !

Many of these PEOPLE are feeling the pinch, as much as anyone else...

consider a maried couple, with perhaps 2 young children...  if one partner, lets say in education, looses their job, due to the cutbacks / larger class sizes,,,  this will leave one wage coming in to the family coffers where there was previously two wage packets !

The income is now cut in  half, and although there will now be a saving possibly on child care, the Household budget, outgoings and THE MORTGAGE will still have to be paid.

First thing to go will be the annual holiday , then heating cutbacks, then skimping on how much food, and the quality, of same. will all come into effect.

Did I hear a minister say today, that any household income below €30.000 was "below the poverty line"  ???    Yes I did,,, on RTE.

Where is it all going to,,,  we see the process beginning to catch up ??? RTE News a couple of days ago showed a "manager" type from FAS, who was responsible for embezeling several thousand [ I think it was €60.000.] passed off as a payment to his own bank account, supposidly for production of "video stuff for FAS",,,,   He was asked to come down to his local garda atation, he was then charged,,,  Granted Bail,,, and given " FREE LEGAL AID "... this carry on will cost the state more than the €60,000 which was embezeled, and make several thousands of €€€s for the legal profession.

This case is so open and shut, it could be dealt with in a public County Court, with a judge, a Garda Superintendant, and a "free legal aid solicitor"   But No.....  It will drag on for weeks at various courts,,,  before eventualy coming to the High Court, with several ranks of Higher, Senior, and Junior Council,,, on both sides...   before the acused is allowed to resign,,, with a large golden Hand shake,,, and a good pension.  [ after all his career will be ruined ]

Will he go directly to jail ???  [ do not collect €60,000.]  Not unless he intends to be in contempt of court, and get sent down for a couple of weeks [ as some other government thieves previously ]

After the dust settles, he can carry on his career with possibly, IMI, or the financial [ watchdog] Ombudsmans office  !!

When all the thieves and swindlers, and flash harry, golden circle types are locked up,,, no new prison yet ???    when all the monies stolen from the "Irish financial System" are paid back,,, then,,,, IF, there is still a financial crisis ?? then I think the "WORKERS" in BOTH, the public and Private Sectors can be asked to tighten their belts. !!!

It is now Friday @ 22.16, and I am getting sick in my stomach, our discraced previous "Teashacht"  B. A.    is making excuses for his destruction of the Irish finances,,, It all came out when he left office,,,   Just in time for the promoted Finance Minister to step into his shoes,,, and take ALL the blame  !!

More to be said on this,,, anyone like to add a comment  !

Peter  47

ALL IT TAKES FOR EVIL TO PREVAIL... IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING. Peter 47

# 11

Posted: 09/10/2009 21:16

Strikes will only antagonise people.

Lay the blame where it must lay. In the FF tent.

I am a Floater and have no affiliation but the FF'ers have screwed everyone and look how even now they are blaming Gilmore for saying what the Sean Citizens have been saying for weeks. NO it's not the messengers that are at fault. It's the politicians. 

# 10

Posted: 09/10/2009 11:35

I agree Frosty. A little perspective would not go astray.

# 9

Posted: 09/10/2009 11:32

Anony  I meant everyone as in the general public, your average hard worker. I think I made the distinction between the fat cats and the average citizen already. Thank you.

# 8

Posted: 08/10/2009 23:02

The biggest problem in this country is regulation there is none, zero all wishy washy handshakes, very good example was the lisbon treaty all washy crap no facts the very same with this goverment , wafflers! Lets us stand together and march this goverment out most especially this miss harney we are fed up with her doing nothing spending our money for her own personal use, this is not acceptable , why are we the only country that is so badly hit, because we have no proper regulation, one small example germany have no such things as waiting lists why? because they have a competant goverment , our third world health system is just not acceptable anymore. the bankers wages must be cut, and profit makers of the golden circle years, sent to jail for distortion. Mr Cowen you are not going to get our money we work so hard for, by the way lets cut your wages, allowance you are paid more than a king or queen in the world bring your wages down to european standard, we are after all in the european union? Mr Lenihan enough of your waffling, cutting back in the expenses of the every member of the dail will pay off all your sneaky loans share,ect. We have had enough of your brutal lies. Time for action now leave the house before you are taken out by us the people!

# 7

Posted: 08/10/2009 20:09

Buzz, everyone is not being made to pay. The politicians are looking after themselves. Molloy gets his money, O'Donoghue will get his lump sum and bonuses, many of the TDs are not in favour of receipted expenses, the bankers are still on the loose, the developers are still drinking champagne, The RTE presenters are getting big salaries, advisors and spin doctors are still getting seven times the industrial wage, etc etc so let us see them being hit with proper pay cuts and a pull down to realistic levels and then we might think again about allowing this shower in Government to take more of our hard earned money.

# 6

Posted: 08/10/2009 15:18

How exactly are we "all to blame"?

# 5

Posted: 08/10/2009 13:20

having been told by a so called hardworking healthcare worker that i could not possibly need a bed pan, and my husband having to go get one himself (which i did indeed nearly fill and definately needed) pardon me for feeling like she deserves a paycut, and the rest of her group too. If they gave that service and attitude in a private job they would be sacked, never mind a pay cut like all the rest of us still lucky to have jjobs. we are all paying the price in the private sector, why shouldnt they.

# 4

Posted: 08/10/2009 11:00

Everyone is being made pay, not just the health workers. There are cuts right across the board, people being let go, forced redundancies, people who have paid into private pensions being told "sorry there's actually no more money in the pot - tough" and hundreds of thousands queing for the dole not to mention going into negative equity, facing losing their homes etc MOST decent hardworking and normal people are taking cuts if not worse. The developers and bankers should be made an example of but of course they wont because the devil protects his own and one fat cat is not going to go against another.

# 3

Posted: 08/10/2009 01:02

We are all to blame for this mess in one way or another- we all contributed and we all have to work together to get out of it and that will mean cuts for us all. Strikes are not going to help. and playing the blame game doesn't help.

# 2

Posted: 07/10/2009 22:51

WHy pay cuts? --- so that politicians, HSE management can award themselves BIG FAT BONUSES, service cuts , pay cuts will lead to unsafe environment in hospitals, But who cares?