20%: GREAT DAIL PAY DEBATE; Pay rise that our politicians want to award themselves but are afraid to in case it upsets you, the voter.

Byline: KEN FOXE

TDs are in line for a 20 per cent pay rise - but Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy is too scared to grant it.

Mr McCreevy believes the time is wrong to sanction the pounds 8,000 annual increase for fear of rocking the industrial relations boat.

The government is already facing down strike action from teachers and health workers, both set to begin next week.

Any pay increase for TDs would only serve to fan the flames of industrial discontent.

It would bring a TD's basic salary up from pounds 41,000 to pounds 49,000.

The Taoiseach's pay would rise to pounds 120,000.

Ministers would get up to pounds 96,000 and Junior Ministers pounds 65,000.

Already this year, deputies have received a five per cent increase under the national pay agreement.

The majority of TDs believe that a substantial pay rise is justified.

Fianna Fail's Ivor Callely said: "I certainly believe that a TD works very hard.

"I equally acknowledge that there are many sectors that do the same and warrant appropriate awards.

"I acknowledge the contribution of secondary school teachers, they've given us the economy we have today."

Fine Gael's Charlie Flanagan said: "I would have to take the view that over the years when it came to various increases, TDs were overlooked.

"We have lagged behind because we have been fearful of adverse public reaction.

"I would make more money if I wasn't in politics. I was in full-time legal practice and would be earning a hell of a lot more money there.

"Brickies and chippies would put TDs in the shade in terms of salary.

"I think the increase is justified but I'm not sure if the people in the country would agree with me.

Kerry TD Jackie Healy-Rae said: "I can guarantee you that whatever type of salary we get, we will still be very capable of spending every farthing of it.

"Whatever politicians are paid, it still won't be enough."

"We're giving day after day on the road. There's no other section of the community doing what we and local councillors do.

"If I wasn't in politics, I'd be making a lot of money working in machinery.

Fianna Fail's Conor Lenihan said: "There should be a pay increase for TDs. I appreciate how sensitive it is at the moment.

"People are going on about scandals. But you're not going to attract very good people into politics with the pay like it is.

"All of us could earn far more in the private sector.

"I have a lot of sympathy for the likes of teachers and so on but we're in the same boat."

Labour's Liz McManus also said that TDs deserved more in their pay packets.

She said: "If you look at the hours TDs work overall, you wouldn't do it for the money."

Junior Minister Willie O'Dea said: "It's fair. It's a very difficult job, I can tell you. The pay is not too bad by international comparisons, but we're not overpaid by any means."

But with the latest inflation figure at 6.8 per cent, Mr McCreevy is nervous at giving the go-ahead to the pay rise for politicians.

Teaching union ASTI and workers at the Southern Regional Health Board are to go on strike this week.

Michael O'Reilly of the ATGWU said: "Inflation has risen nearly every month now since the beginning of the year.

"While corporate profits soar and government surpluses exceed all expectations, the low paid have seen their standard of living destroyed."

CAPTION(S):

LONG HOURS: McManus; JUSTIFIED: Ivor Callely; NEED MORE: Healy-Rae; RELUCTANT: McCreevy; OVERLOOKED: Flanagan; SYMPATHETIC: Lenihan