FG to force Government into embarrassing vote on pension issue

THE Government will be forced into an embarrassing Dáil vote next week on Fine Gael proposals to ban ministerial pensions, as four serving Fianna Fáil politicians refuse to give them up.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen did not make contact with two TDs, a senator and a Fianna Fáil MEP, leaving it to their own discretion whether or not to relinquish their payments.

Former tourism minister Jim McDaid is the only one insisting he is not for turning on the issue and will keep his €22,487 ministerial pension on top of his €98,424 TD salary as a “matter of principle”.