If John Gormley was on the other side of the Dáil Chamber these days he might be having a go at An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about the merit of his recent €38,000 pay increase. If Deputy Gormley wasn't in bed with Mr Ahern, he might be pressing the man he once described as the 'L'Oreal Taoiseach' to admit that he gave himself a major pay increase at a time of alleged turmoil in the Irish economy 'because (he thinks) he's worth it'.

However, by not raising their heads above the parapet, Mr Ahern's Cabinet colleagues (FF, PD and Green alike), who are also set to benefit from the recommended increases, are suggesting that they also think they are worth it. So are we dealing with a 'L'Oreal Cabinet'?

Despite the recent penchant for U-turns at Cabinet level, An Taoiseach has said that any reversal of his decision to accept the pay increases recommended by an independent pay body for politicians and higher civil servants would be pure tokenism. The man who earns more than US President George Bush believes he is worth it.

Mr Ahern may be carrying the can but by their inaction on the issue, his Cabinet colleagues seem to be implying they think they are worth it too.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea's musings last week that the issue could be revisited because the pay increases were difficult to defend were said to have been misinterpreted, while the Green Party's Eamon Ryan, who as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources would also benefit from the increases, has only gone so far as to say he would be happy to discuss the issue.

But, if the widespread outcry is anything to go by, the general populace would beg to differ. And it's not hard to understand why. The increases are a slap in the face in the current climate.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen has said that there will be a definite tightening of our belts in the next budget. Meanwhile, the health system is going through its worst period to date. Not alone is there employee unrest amid cutbacks and employment freezes, the delivery of the service has been called into question by recent failings in the delivery of breast cancer services.

Mr Ahern may not be a fan of tokenism but sometimes a token goes a long way. By not accepting the pay increases, the Cabinet can hold some face, albeit an unadorned one.

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