Four Fine Gael TDs still claim ministerial pension
Eighteen TDs volunteered to “gift” their ministerial pensions to the state last April following public pressure. Controversy over such payments arose after it emerged Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was earning a €108,000 pension on top of her €243,000 salary as Ireland’s EU commissioner.
But the Department of Finance has confirmed that five TDs are continuing to draw down the payment, including Noel Treacy of Fianna Fáil and four others from Fine Gael.
Mr Noonan earned €30,000 in a ministerial pension so far this year on top of a TD’s salary of more than €90,000. He has insisted that this money was used for charitable donations.
Cork South West TD Jim O’Keeffe earned a pension of €13,789, but he also said it is given to various charities.
Fine Gael put forward a bill in the Dáil last May calling for the payment of ministerial pensions to members of the Oireachtas to be stopped “with immediate effect”.
The bill, which was voted down by Fianna Fáil, would have shown political leadership, according to Fine Gael, who said it made the Dáil look like “a self-absorbed system that does not seem to be in touch with the problems facing ordinary people”.
Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael TD Sean Barrett was paid €18,841 in a ministerial pension and Kildare North’s Bernard Durkan claimed €4,253.
A spokesperson for Fine Gael said any members who have not given up their ministerial pension are donating it to charity.
Party leader Enda Kenny agreed last April to give up his €9,113 ministerial pension as did his then deputy leader, Richard Bruton, who has a ministerial pension of €13,242.
Galway East TD Noel Treacy admitted in May he would be one of the only TDs not handing up their pensions, saying he would be giving it to various charities and voluntary organisations
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has the highest ministerial pension of any sitting TD, at €98,901. But he has agreed to gift this back to the state until he retires from politics.
