LUCINDA CREIGHTON EARNS €135,000 A YEAR: CALLS FOR CUTS IN THE MINIMUM WAGE
Oct 21st, 2010 by Conor McCabe
[Thanks to Jonathon for the figures]
What I am proposing is to seriously and immediately review the current rate in line with falling wages in the private sector and deflation in the larger economy. In addition it is essential that we continue to review the rate annually thereafter to stay competitive” (Lucinda Creighton, 21 October 2010)
The call for a reduction in the Minimum Wage is totally transparent and is based not on a convincing economic narrative, but rather on political expediency from well-resourced and vocal sectional interests.” (Aiden Lloyd, EAPN Ireland)
For an informed analysis on the nature of poverty and the minimum wage, see here.
Also ,TASC publication, ‘Square Deal? The Real Cost of making a Meal in the Restaurant Sector’
TASC presentation on the minimum wage, here.
Post by Michael Taft, here.
Advocates of cutting the minimum wage always fail mention that the minimum wage laws have a built in flexibility - if a firm cannot pay the minimum wage in the short run, it can seek approval from the Labour Court to pay lower than the minimum wage (it has to obtain the agreement of its employees also, but this is hardly a difficult task). If there was substantial data from the Labour Court, in the form of applications under the above procedure, that a wide section of businesses were not being able to meet the minimum wage in the long-term, then there might be good reason to re-evaluate the level. To date, I have yet to see anybody present such data.
Of course, explaining this to the ‘minimum wage causes unemployment’ crowd involves asking them to question their faith. We know where that leads.
In the true spirit of Equal Opportunities, I’d go for ‘lowlife plonker’ - if only I weren’t blissfully ignorant of who she is.
Conor - ye’re becoming a repeat offender with the ‘c’ word
According to here (http://thestory.ie/category/fois/expenses/) Creighton’s salary and expenses for 2008 were E135,612 (I can’t find more up-to-date figures). On minimum wage, you would have to work 60 hours a week for 7 days a week for 5 years to earn that much. But we’re all in this together, eh?
Now, now Conor. It is important not to let the facts get in the way of a nice theory.
Makes me sick to read what she suggested.
‘C’ word is now ‘Creighton’
Aye, Marc Coleman is using it too, and Creighton wasn’t even present:
http://achgohairithe.tumblr.com/post/841150373/massive-slip-of-the-ahem-tongue-on-newstalks
This is link was posted up on Dublin Opinion in July but I didn’t notice it until now.