MICHAEL D HIGGINS is set to earn up to €1.75 million over the next seven years at the Áras.
As it stands, the salary for the Irish president is just under €250,000 per annum, reduced under the public pay cap legislation. (President Mary McAleese didn’t have to take that pay cut, but offered to.)
It got us thinking – is this too much or too little for a head of state to earn? Is it just right? TheJournal.ie has taken a look at the salaries of some other heads of state with a largely ceremonial role.
Note: The salaries are all converted into euro, while we have included the corresponding country’s total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for 2010 to offer context. Some of the monarchs included have to pay for the upkeep of their residences and travel expenses out of their salary, but the residences are often in fact owned by the state. (All images from Press Association)
What do you think, is €250,000 an appropriate salary for Ireland’s head of state?
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