Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

consultants payrise obscene

Published: 6 April, 2009

North Inishowen Sinn Fein candidate Sean Ruddy this morning described as obscene the €50 - €60, 000 increase in medical consultants' salaries approved by the government.

The revelation was made on the same day that the HSE announced a massive €1 billion cutback in services which will hit patients all across Donegal.

Mr Ruddy said: "The unfairness of the government's plans is clearly illustrated by the Minister for Health's announcement that medical consultant's salary is to be increased by €50,000 to €240,000 a year."

The HSE does not hide the fact that patients will suffer in this process."

"The announcement also comes on the day that the government passed legislation to make a €1.4 billion cut in the wages of others working in the public sector."

"The consultants salary increase amounts to one and a half times the average industrial wage and what three or four families will get on the dole. It shows the governments complete disregard for fairness in who has to bear the burden in this financial and economic crisis.