Cowen won’t ‘call the bluff’ of TDs with pensions

DEMANDS to “call the bluff” of sitting TDs who insist on claiming ministerial pensions by banning the practice outright have been strongly rejected by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the payments should be outlawed and those who continue to insist on the pensions would then be forced to take court action to save the contentious financial package and risk outraging public opinion if they did so.

As the opposition parties moved to seize the political initiative over anger at well paid TDs, senators and MEPs drawing down lucrative state pensions while still being paid as public representatives, Mr Cowen attacked the idea that laws could be passed that may not stand up to constitutional scrutiny.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael would use its parliamentary time next week to try and force through a bill that would end the payments to sitting Oireachtas members.

The Taoiseach hit back, saying the Government had advice from the Attorney General that such legislation would not stand.

Mr Kenny insisted such a move was essential as the political process had been rocked by a number of scandals and reform was needed to improve the tarnished image of the Oireachtas.

Mr Cowen said the Government had already taken steps to end the pension practice being carried over to the next Dáil, but had to abide by “property rights” relating to the issue for the present parliamentary term.

“It is a question of the Government having to propose legislation that is lawful,” he said.

Mr Kenny said that Fine Gael had never accepted it was unconstitutional to legislate to end the pension payments and whether the Taoiseach accepted his bill or not, Fine Gael TDs would no longer accept the extra money.

The pensions row saw the two main opposition parties scramble to dominate the issue as Labour was the first to announce its ministerial pension holders would forego the entitlement, but Fine Gael was first to produce concrete legislation that would enshrine a total ban in law.

Mr Cowen reminded TDs that there had been a 25% reduction in pensions paid to serving politicians, and that if people wanted to make a larger contribution that was up to them.

Mr Kenny said the Green Party should back Fine Gael in next week’s vote if they were serious about political reform.

“If Fianna Fáil and the Greens vote down our proposal, all Fine Gael ministerial pension holders will voluntarily give up their pension either to the Exchequer of Irish charities.”