Cowen ‘bribing’ backbenchers with pensions

BRIAN Cowen is “bribing” his senior backbenchers by letting them keep generous ministerial pensions, Fine Gael last night claimed.

The party’s enterprise spokesman Leo Varadkar said the Taoiseach had refused to cut the bonuses by more than 25% because he was buying their support ahead of controversial welfare cuts.

As the pensions for sitting TDs who used to be ministers were trimmed back by a quarter, opposition deputies again queried why they could not be done away with completely.