TDs’ pay set to soar ahead of average

TDs’ salaries will grow to almost three and a half times the average workers annual wage by 2005.

Currently, the average industrial wage is €27,000, but by 2005, TDs’ pay will have increased to €91,800 - a pay hike of €42,000 over just five years.

Since the general election last year, Dáil Éireann sat for an average of just one-and-a-half days a week, making it one of the least active parliaments in Europe. The Dáil will not come back from its three month summer break for another fortnight.