Government should have pulled Cardiff nomination – McDonald
Responding
to the news that the government’s nominee to the European Court of Auditors has
been rejected by the Budgetary Committee of the European Parliament Sinn Féin
Public Expenditure and Reform Spokeswoman Mary Lou McDonald TD has criticised
the government for not withdrawing its nominee despite widespread opposition to
the appointment.
Deputy McDonald said:
“Citizens demand and expect full accountability from civil servants. The public
deserve and expect transparency and accountability from those who are tasked by
government to manage the peoples’ money.
“Like their ministerial counterparts those at the very top of the civil service
continue to benefit from massive pay and pension arrangements at a time of
soaring unemployment and savage cuts to public services.
“Handing out plum jobs for top dogs in the public sector even when they are
clearly not the best person for the job is simply unacceptable.
“Despite our economic realities Labour and Fine Gael continue to protect high
earners’ and senior civil servants’ excessive pay and pensions whilst awarding
massive salaries to their special advisors.
“This government promised us an end to political cronyism yet since coming to
power ministers have barely tinkered around the edges of reform choosing
instead to target middle and low income frontline workers across the public
sector and in turn citizens who rely on public services in increasing numbers.”
ENDS