Ex-minister’s pension tops €100,000

FORMER minister Ray Burke, who served a prison sentence for tax evasion, has seen his pension rise to more than €100,000 a year.

Fine Gael has called on the Government to remove ministerial pensions for politicians who have been convicted of tax offences or corruption.

Mr Burke’s pension — about three times the average industrial wage — is composed of two elements. He receives a ministerial pension for his time in government and a TD’s pension for his time in the Dáil.