Coughlan appointee to waive fee

A POLITICAL appointee by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan to a state board has said he will not accept the €8,250 annual fee and suggests others should follow suit.

Brendan Byrne, a Fianna Fáil member of Donegal County Council, said he will not be accepting the payment due to him as a member to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) or any expenses for attending meetings.

The appointment of political associates by outgoing ministers ahead of the general election was recently criticised by Fine Gael but Ms Coughlan’s spokesperson refused to comment on the announcement of Mr Byrne as one of eight new HEA appointments.