McAleese's pay tops Obama's
Saturday November 07 2009
Regarding your report on President Mary McAleese "slashing" her household budget (Irish Independent, November 6), it might be of interest to compare our President's salary with that of the President of the United States.
President Barack Obama, presiding over a population of 300 million, receives a salary of $400,000 (including $50,000 expenses), which converts to roughly €269,000.
Following a 10pc pay cut, Mrs McAleese receives a salary of €292,957.
Can one even begin to compare the responsibilities of the US president to that of our own head of state, without even mentioning the difference in size between the countries?
While Mrs McAleese treats the little people to receptions in the Aras, please remember what contribution she is making to the crisis in the country.
"You can't be in a position of public leadership and be immune from what is going on around," she says.
I beg to differ.
Irish Independent
