€14,000 Pay Cut for Enda Kenny
Ireland’s new ministers received their seals of office from President Mary McAleese last night
In what is one of his first acts in the top position, Enda Kenny has slashed his own pay by €14,000.
The new government has also decided to cut the pay of senior ministers.
The Taoiseach’s pay is to be cut from €214,187 to €200,000.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s pay is cut from €197,486 to €184,405.
Ministers’ pay has been reduced to €169,275 (from €181,283), while pay for Ministers of State is cut from €139,266 to €130,042.
In another cost-cutting measure, Kenny has asked the Garda, the Departments of Justice and Transport, as well as the Office of Public Works, to come up with a plan to reduce the amount spent on transporting ministers and their teams.
New Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar also said this morning that fewer ministers would travel around the world for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.