I AM a private-sector pensioner and would be happy to take a pay cut in the interests of putting our current recession behind us.

I listen to public sector unions voicing their ire at suggestions that their members have to take further financial pain for the same reason and, I have to say, I agree with them. Every day we open a newspaper or listen to the radio, we hear new revelations of huge salaries, bonuses and retirement packages.

We've just had the politicians' expenses debacle and the revelations of exorbitant payments to our radio and tv personalities. Look at the medical profession! Have any of us seen specialists or dentists take a pay cut? GPs charge about €40 to give the anti-flu jab, which they get free from the HSE!

In our national interest nobody should be paid more than €100,000pa. Until public and media pressure achieve what I would call "equalisation of remuneration", we will have increasing social unrest.

James Scott,

Mullingar