Treacy to give pension to charity

FIANNA FÁIL TD Noel Treacy is to give his ministerial pension to charity, but slammed the opposition for “hypocritically” piling pressure on him and others over the issue.

Mr Treacy, who earns €98,424 as a TD, told the Dáil yesterday he would surrender the pension, even though he could not afford to.

The pension was worth €24,000 to Mr Treacy last year, according to Department of Finance figures, although it would have been worth less this year because of a 25% cut imposed by the Government.

“I want to say that I, who get a mere net pension of €167 per week, cannot afford to give up that pension,” Mr Treacy said. “In the interests of standing in solidarity at this time with the people of Ireland, and with the membership of this parliament, I am prepared to allocate my pension to various voluntary bodies and charitable organisations.”

Mr Treacy was speaking during the debate on a Fine Gael motion urging the Government to introduce legislation to end immediately the practice whereby serving politicians can claim ministerial pensions.