Reacting to figures reported in todays Farmers Journal which reveal that the top earners on Wexford County Council receive an average of €55,000 per annum in salaries and expenses, Sinn Féin Cllr John Dwyer has said that the 'Golden Circle' which exists in Wexford must now be broken.
Cllr Dwyer said:
"Todays Farmers Journal article finally exposes the reality that elected members of Wexford County Council have been unashamedly milking the system. It is a scandal and a disgrace that elected members have been receiving salaries that are up to, and above, double the average industrial wage, treble the minimum wage and quadruple the incomes of those on Social Welfare.
"It would be interesting to hear the members of Wexford County Council attempt to justify these exorbitant salaries. How on earth could they justify these amounts while presiding over severe economic neglect and huge job losses in this county?
"How can they now justify their policy of targetting the ordinary householder with massive bin charges and higher rents, while they have been creaming the system for their own personal gain?
"To date the electorate have largely been unaware of these staggering figures. There is little doubt that those who have greedily pocketed public monies have been happier to do so in relative secrecy.
"This Golden Circle has now been exposed. It is now time for change. It is time for it to be broken."
