Isn"t it time this merry-go-round stopped?

The Irish political system is in real danger of being entirely discredited by voters. In the midst of the most serious economic crisis to hit this country - and the wider world - in generations, the ongoing revelations regarding politicians" expenses, payments and golden handshakes are only exacerbating a growing sense of anger and disenchantment with the political system. And whilst the existing generation of politicians may be to blame if they become the victims of their own actions, it is no one"s interest for the public to disavow politics entirely. Just as a functional banking system is required to grease the wheels of business in any economy, so too is a functioning political system necessary to operate a democracy. However, it appears as if our current generation of politicians, with some notable exceptions, are doing their utmost to ensure they blacken the name of politics for years to come. Take the most recent revelation that sitting MEPs who bow out of the European Parliament receive an 'end of mandate allowance' for example. Any MEP serving more than three years who either loses their seat or opts not to contest the forthcoming election receives an allowance equal to one month"s salary for every year of service. An MEP elected FIVE short years ago in 2004, and who now retires, will receive over €50,000. Similarly every county councillors who is not re-elected in June will have the blow softened by a €70,000 goodbye payment. All councillors over the age of 50 will automatically qualify for the payment, irrespective of whether they have stood for election or not. This comes in the wake of the minor changes in the number of junior ministers and the revelation that each of the axed junior ministers will get payments of up to €53,000 to compensate them for loss of earnings. The revelations follows the news that the plan to abolish long-service payments to TDs and Senators will only be applied in the future and will not affect politicians who already receive such payments. TDs serving 10 years or more in the Dáil receive an annual increment of €6,400 on top of their basic pay of €100,000. Those with between seven and 10 years" service qualify for an increment of €3,200. And despite a budget day promise to abolish these bonus payments, the Government back-tracked and admitted that only TDs set to qualify for the increments in the future, or those newly elected to the next Dáil, would be affected by the move The u-turn came following suggestions that there would be legal difficulties with implementing moves to strip those currently receiving the increments of their payments in the future. Of course, the public is entitled to ask why any move to reduce the bonuses and payments to politicians always appears to be open to legal challenge, whilst any reduction in the benefits of the general public can sail smoothly through the Houses of Oireachtas. Our politicians are in danger of being tarred for ever more as having their snouts in the trough at the very time that the rest of us are facing major financial headaches. It"s time this merry-go-round was stopped.