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”.

Mr McDaid said if politicians give in to the “mob type frenzy” they will end up losing more of their earnings until they reach a “basic level” of payments.

Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward has been unavailable to comment on whether he will continue to draw his €52,000 TD pension and €12,000 ministerial pension on top of his €91,000 salary as a representative in the European Parliament.

Galway East TD Noel Treacy said he will make a decision over the weekend on whether to keep his €24,000 ministerial pension after discussing it with his family.

Senator Ivor Callely said he would not be discussing what is a “personal issue” but would not confirm whether or not he will retain his €6,637 annual ministerial pension.

Mr McDaid said politicians were being “targeted” while there were people “from all disciplines who are retired, earning a pension actually working”.

Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Layden agreed to give up his ministerial pension yesterday but said politicians have “taken a major hit” and there needs to be “a review of the whole situation”.

He said: “There are former ministers and TDs receiving remuneration in the state service. For instance in relation to Anglo, one person has taken up the position of chairman.”

But former Fine Gael leader and chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Alan Dukes, defended his combined ministerial and TD pension of €99,470 which he earns on top of his salary of €99,000 in his state-appointed position in the nationalised bank.

“I am in a completely different category from any standing member of the Dáil. I am eight years out of politics and a public service pensioner,” he said.

If Mr McDaid and Mr Treacy refuse to give up their pensions before next Wednesday, Fine Gael will table a private members’ motion in the Dáil urging new legislation to ban the payments to serving TDs.

The Green Party said it will look at the proposed legislation but the Government has already been advised by the attorney general it is unconstitutional.