Enda Kenny believes that he is worth every penny of his €3,500-a-week salary.
During a Q&A at the launch of the Government’s Low Pay Commission, which is set to examine the current minimum wage (€8.65) with a view to raising the rate, Irish Examiner journalist Shaun Connolly broached the subject of the Taoiseach’s own pay cheque.
Connolly highlighted the fact that Kenny makes more money than British Prime Minister David Cameron despite the fact Ireland has a population smaller than Yorkshire.
“I appreciate that you’ve already taken a pay cut but you’re still very well paid by international comparisons… Do you still think that there’s scope for the Taoiseach’s office to reduce its wage salary or are you actually worth €3,500?” Connolly asked.
In an answer that sounded very much like an audition for an L’Oréal advert, Kenny simply replied “very much so”.
Kenny added that “salaries are down by 40 per cent in the case of the Taoiseach’s. We’ve cut everything to the bone and your question is typical”.
(A ‘typical question’ that we all wanted to ask.)
