According to Tom Coffee, chief executive of the Dublin City Business Association, civil service wages should be cut by 20%.

Others are calling for wage cuts across the board, while some (mainly the likes of Joan Burton) are saying only those in the higher echelons of salaries should endure a cut in wages.

What do you think?

im with joan on this,some people earn ridiculous money,start with the politicians and work down.

I'm with Butters being with Joan on this....

The highest earners should be targeted first. Too many people are struggling on what they have now for them to even think of cutting "regular" salaries.

the higest earners should be taxed more. they are afraid it will drive money out of the country which it will, but when the full option is cripple the people they keep in the poverty trap, i think it would be smarter not to encourage people like me to start killing the rich.

i agree fully with what's been said here so far.

i also think it's disgusting that the likes of bono keep money in offshore accounts for the tax breaks...does he not realise that in doing so less tax dollars are actually going to foreign aid??? less tax dollars means less money in the coffers of Irish Aid.

the thing is, if they had higher tax on personal income as opposed to corporate tax, it won't drive people away. where will they move? india? china? ireland has one of the lowest personal income tax rates...why not at least take it up a notch or two?
all it means for the greedy rich bastards is selling off their helicopter they use to go to work, or getting rid of one of their death machines/suvs.

I'm in favour of pay freezes/moderation in the public sector, but the idea of a 20% cut accross the board is wrong. What's needed is more efficiency both in the public and private sectors; this includes those at the top in both, who've been awarding themselves perks and bonuses for too long while preaching restraing.

What about imposing a tax on artistic writing? Novels and plays and the like? People who produce art in this country pay no tax on their earnings?
Do we think thats fair? Look at someone like Marian Keyes who is now worth millions, she doesn't pay a penny tax?
Sorry, am I taking this off topic now?
I just think it could be a good source of revenue for the govt.

I think she is a special case, there is a reason the phrase starving artist came about.
but there should be a threshold income for artists after which they start paying tax.

i doubt she's that special a case...if all artists are exempt...
what about the likes of roddy doyle then? or maeve binchy?

it should be income based, not career based IMO and anyone making shit loads of dosh should be taxed to the hilt.

The civil service.

nooooooo not the civil service

The rich wans should get a 50% pay cut, and the rest of us be left alone.

The pay cuts should start at the top down. Take any of the big companies or corporations. The directors of these compamnys would be getting €1 plus remuneration and that isnt taking there pension into account.

Cant see the point in attacking the highly paid when you ignored them for years as you were busily raking it in yourself

Face the facts, recession is nasty, but work goes on, just don't expect to have the same spending power for a while.