While most people have seen their disposables income plunge in recent years, new figures show that the top 10 per cent of earners have actually seen an increase.
Statistics show the rich-poor gap increased in 2010, with the top 20 per cent of earners bringing home incomes 5.5 times greater than those on the lowest incomes.
The latest Disposable Income Tracker by the Irish League of Credit Unions shows families’ concerns over making ends meet and heating their homes this winter.
Disposable income index shows that half of Irish people don’t feel able to save regularly – and increasing numbers of working adults are left without spare cash after essentials paid for.
A MOTION OF no confidence in the Minister for Justice will be debated in the Dáil next week with Fianna Fáil claiming Alan Shatter’s position is now “untenable”.
The opposition party has been fiercely critical of the Fine Gael deputy’s handling of an ongoing row with Independent TD Mick Wallace.
“The Minister has shown extremely poor judgement of late. In particular, he used private information he received from the Garda Commissioner to undermine an opposition TD on Prime Time last week,” Niall Collins charged.
Shatter is currently facing two investigations by the Data Protection Commissioner and the Standards in Public Office Commission over his actions. He was also forced to clarify the nature of an incident where he was breathalysed by gardaí but could not complete the test because of asthma.
Although the motion of no confidence is unlikely to pass (as the government can table a counter-motion), TheJournal.ie wants to know what you think. Is Alan Shatter’s position as minister untenable?