This excellent letter appeared in today’s Irish Times.

Madam, – In this dire economic environment, one obvious and justified way for the Government to raise money would be for it to enforce the contract it has with its employees.

If they, for example, refuse to take telephone calls, this reduces their productivity by, say, 10 per cent. A similar deduction from their pay should be made. In the private sector, if an employee refuses to carry out instructions given in the normal course of his work, he can be dismissed. A huge amount of taxpayers’ money would be saved if a similar approach were to be adopted in the public sector.

Instead of lifetime security in a an undemanding job, a large number of State employees would find themselves joining an increasing number of their private sector brethren on the street. Taxes could be reduced, the national debt diminished and the largely parasitic public employees would be available for real productive work elsewhere. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN CROWLEY
Leinster Square,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6