Workers Solidarity Movement

Ireland now has six euro billionaires, Northern Ireland Assembly has cost taxpayers £78 million, 1,250 barristers and solicitors earn more than €200,000, Bertie Ahern received no less than 5 pay rises in the 6 monthsThe average industrial wage in the 26 counties is €30,000. Bertie Ahern received no less than 5 pay rises in the 6 months up to the end of 2005. He now gets €252,000 a year, plus all sorts of perks and 'expenses' - like his €28,000 a year for make up!

Sick and sicker
Hunger and malnutrition are killing nearly six million children a year in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation this is more than were dying 10 years ago. The main killers are preventable diseases like diarrhoea, measles, malaria and pneumonia. The medicines exist; the poor just can't afford them.

More Big Earners.
1,250 barristers and solicitors earn more than €200,000 a year. [from 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available]
It also emerged that 80 of the people earning more than 200k paid no tax whatsoever - this includes 5 people who earned more than 1 million.

Money for Nothing!
Although the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in October 2002, it has cost taxpayers £78 million (euro 113 million) since then. Each of the 108 Assembly members is receiving £85,000 (euro 123,000) a year for doing nothing.

Euro Billions.
Ireland now has six euro billionaires, up from four last year. The combined wealth of Irelands 250 wealthiest bosses is €42.3bn. And that's just the money they declare to the tax office!
The top six are:
Hilary Weston, €7.286bn;
Tony O'Reilly, €1.897bn ;
John Dorrance, €1.857bn;
Dermot Desmond, €1.239bn;
Sean Quinn, €1.157bn;
Tony Ryan; €1.114bn
From Workers Solidarity 90, Jan/Feb 2005
 

From Workers Solidarity 90, Jan/Feb 2005
PDF file of WS 90