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Higgins takes hundred thousand dollar pay cut before he assumes office

New President reminds Galway of his love of Ireland

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, October 31, 2011, 7:16 AM

Updated Monday, October 31, 2011, 10:12 AM

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18 Comments

President elect Michael D Higgins

President-elect Michael D Higgins has handed over a hundred thousand dollars a year back to the Irish people.

The Galway man has confirmed that he will take a reduced salary as he soon as he takes up office.

Higgins, who returned West in triumph to a hero’s welcome in Eyre Square on Sunday, has pledged to take a $106,000 reduction in his annual salary.

Entitled to claim the full $450,000 a year package, Higgins will instead receive just under $350,000 in remuneration.

New legislation is being prepared to cut the President’s salary in line with recent reductions but Higgins has taken the voluntary drop.

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The 70- year-old has also resigned from the Labor Party after his election and confirmed that he will only serve on seven-year term in office.

The new President vowed on his return to Galway to listen to those who elected him.

“I have lived by ideas all my life and one thing you can take in this presidency is that ideas will be valued,” said Higgins as 5,000 people braved the driving rain to welcome him home.

“I want to pledge now to use every breath I have for the next seven years to try and be inspirational at home, as we leave behind the false basis of that for which so many have and are paying a great price.

“We have moved past a chapter where the individual counted, now it will be about what we can do together.

The President elect then reminded those present of their place in his heart when he said: “I think there is nothing wrong with saying it publicly and often - I love Ireland and I love its people.”

President elect Michael D Higgin's acceptance speech at Dublin Castle:

Michael D Higgins - a career montage by RTE:

Nster.com

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18 Comments

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solyeant | Nov 03, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

Seems the new Ireland needs new vision and if I were either of the two Mary's I would feel just that little bit upset that O Higgins has needed to refer to the cult of the individual rather than the pursuit of common aims for the Irish. Gerondtocracy seems appropriate in this case but where will the fresh grren field ideas come from. Courses in Cantonese and Mandarin must be made compulsory or we will all end up ordering the sweet and sour pork because the number is usually no 59 and the waiter understands that. Taking a drop of 100k in salary is fine but what will a 71 yr old do with 250 which rests probably buy himself a villa in the South of France and the languedoc maybe I have a few might interest him and he could spout all he wanted about labour principles in a world of greed lets hope the rest of Ireland will follow me in asking him to be present at all times and every day The Queen of England gets 3 or 4 million and just look at how busy she is I suppose we could ask him to work only from when he gets up until 18.00 when he can get a glass of pickmeup Should we ask of our President what tablets is he on at the present time and does he envisage any recourse to medication in the near future He would be a strange bod who doesn't have some Lipitor around his office or some statens and even an aspirin for the blood but we should be told now .

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Towngate | Nov 02, 2011, 05:22 AM EDT

JOLIEJO: Interesting comment. You are mistaken in thinking The President of the Republic of Ireland is an 'honorary'* position. He is the Elected Head of State with wide-ranging duties and responsibilities to over-see the behaviour of the Elected Government in relation to the Written Constitution. He will select a Council of State to assist him and may refer any contentious matters to the High Court. Although not an 'Executive President' ala US and elsewhere,it is still a very important role for Irish and World democracy. ~~~ The 'Pay' issue is another matter.You can have lots of fun with your calculator with it. Depending which end of the telescope you choose to look down,and assuming a President is paid in relation to Population or Land Mass Area ~ by my rough calculation Obama might be paid 46 million dollars a year - or - Higgins could be paid 3,200.00 . Work it out for yourself. Remember, Europe is Metric so we don't have square miles any more. - Think 'Kilometers' for distances and 'Hectares' for areas. I do agree that public sector salaries and pension in Ireland have ridiculously high, but are being adjusted in the austerity measures now under way. ~ You are entitled to feel proud of your country, but perhaps you should broaden your reading. We are a long way from 'The United Greats of America!'~ *-search 'define Honorary'. ~~~ Tombegs ' "this Higgins person" knows a lot more than you might imgine. Do some research,weep, and write an apology to him. How dare you!

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tombegs | Nov 02, 2011, 04:31 AM EDT

See, this is one example of how Ireland is different from the US. In our country, politicians spend (other's) millions to be elected to positions that pay thousands. I, for one, thank GOD almighty and our Supreme Court for posessing that benefit. Nothing else wiill show the rest of the world how and why America is exceptional. What does this Higgins person actually know about the improtance of money and, more importantly, greed??

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Searlit | Nov 01, 2011, 06:50 PM EDT

Good!

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sirpeter | Nov 01, 2011, 01:27 PM EDT

He could have given a lot more.

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JOLIEJO | Oct 31, 2011, 07:09 PM EDT

What does the Irish President do? I thought it was an honorary title with no real power to speak of. The amount of salary being paid just blew me away. The US president only gets $400,000. Compared to size, the US being 3,797,813 square miles, compared to Ireland’s 32,599 square miles, someone is getting underpaid or overpaid. I personally think all our politicians are paid more than they are worth. I once read that America was great in spite of the politicians not because of them. That probably could be said about a lot of places.

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Towngate | Oct 31, 2011, 06:32 PM EDT

acorseimereeelydellirhedabaowwritt* jacers, but tell me this: How many seperate Pensions and Severence Packages is the bould Michael dhrawin' from all his Government Positions he's held over the years. A bit of disclosure on that might be interesting and explain why he can afford to do the job at a 'nixer' rate! ~~~~~ (* 'Dublinese for: "Of course I am really delighted about it".)

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cillowen | Oct 31, 2011, 05:35 PM EDT

Martin McGuinness shamed him and the others - Sinn Fein power is awesome. The Mick of the Box could hire a body or two as well. This is the role I see for Martin, telling it like it is and flushing out others into being unselfish like their once saviour Jesus. Without the RC Jesus programming they'd have been like the Welsh who gave up the ghost too easily. No St, David cross, on the Union Jack for these poor souls.

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cillowen | Oct 31, 2011, 05:30 PM EDT

Martin McGuinness shamed him and the others - Sinn Fein power is awesome. This is the role I see for Martin, flushing out others into being unselfish like Jesus.

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DANNYD1 | Oct 31, 2011, 04:23 PM EDT

I thik you have a winner in Michael H.

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CanadianPat | Oct 31, 2011, 03:35 PM EDT

is that on top of the cut the goverment was to make ,or is it just that (the cut the goverment was about to make at any rate)? Still with over 300 thousand ,hardly an industrial wage as McGuinness would have taken.

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jacersagain | Oct 31, 2011, 02:33 PM EDT

It's not going to hurt Michael D to take a pay cut, not one bit. It has hurt all the street-Irish badly though.

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biggles008 | Oct 31, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT

Good man Michael D. The public has gained already.How much did the current President give back.

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JBRAFTREE | Oct 31, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

This guy sounds like the right person for the job. Good job on the voting Ireland!!

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Liam3494 | Oct 31, 2011, 11:29 AM EDT

What a shame (The comment - not the President Elect, obviously).