Madam, – With regard to your Editorial (December 1st), on the decision of Dermot Ahern to retire, no mention was made of the profound injustice of the position that he finds himself in when compared to the vast majority of the rest of us.
We are told that he will receive not one, but at least two pensions that will yield an income of €130,000 per year (€2,500 per week), to be garnished with lump sum payments of €180,000. These are figures that stagger the mind of the vast majority of people with modest pensions; and those having to rely on the State pension are beside themselves with anger at the sheer injustice of it all.
Is it any wonder that there are many more of Mr Ahern’s colleagues waiting in the wings to join him in the lap of luxury as the rest face each day with trepidation and fear?
To add insult to injury, Mr Ahern, who is 55 years old, recently joined his colleagues in agreeing to a so-called bailout plan that will raise the retirement age to 68 for the rest of us mere mortals. This gross disparity in how different people and groups are treated in this country must stop.
We know that Fianna Fáil will never find the morality to do that, after all it was it and Charlie McCreevy who introduced the laws that created this discriminatory and unjust situation, so it is down to the Opposition to state clearly that the first thing it will do in office is change the rules so that no State pension shall be payable until the recognised retirement age is reached and that no person should receive more than one pension. In addition, all State pensions should be linked with the highest – an agreed multiple of the lowest.
If they fail to do that the message will go out loud and clear, that if they are elected, nothing really will change. Self-interest will continue to be the prime motivator of those mandated to act only in the common good. – Yours, etc,