Ex-Carey aide seeks redundancy pay

A FORMER Fianna Fáil minister, who received a lump sum in excess of €200,000 after losing his Dáil seat, has been criticised over his failure to pay a former member of his political staff redundancy money.

Former Community Affairs Minister and Government chief whip, Pat Carey, has so far not paid a redundancy sum of €4,250 due to his former constituency secretary, Linda Weir, since last March.

Ms Weir, who worked as a part-time secretary at Mr Carey’s constituency office in Finglas since 1997, has expressed concern at the continuing failure of the former TD to pay over the money given the fact that he is in receipt of large-scale severance pay and an Oireachtas pension after losing his Dáil seat earlier this year.

It is estimated Mr Carey will receive a six-figure sum in the first 12 months since failing to get re-elected based on a combination of severance payments and a combined ministerial and TD’s pension.

Based on 12 years of service as a TD, Mr Carey will receive €83,618 alone in termination payments over the first 12 months of losing his Dáil seat.

The 63-year-old former teacher also received a pension lump sum of €124,594 and will receive an annual TD’s pension of €39,234. He will also receive similar-type payments from the Department of Finance as a former member of Cabinet.

It is estimated his combined annual Oireachtas pension will be almost €75,000 per annum. Furthermore, Mr Carey is in receipt of a teacher’s pension since retiring from his former teaching post in 2008.

Ms Weir took a case against the former Dublin North-West TD to the Employment Appeals Tribunal last year over concerns that she would not be paid her proper redundancy entitlements in the event of Mr Carey losing his Dáil seat. However, her action was settled just before the case was due to go to a public hearing.

The Irish Examiner has learnt that Mr Carey agreed, under the terms of the settlement, to pay her any due redundancy money.

“Pat Carey promised to pay me the money but to date he has not done so. The €4,250 which I am due is a pittance compared to the money he is receiving as a former TD and Minister,” said Ms Weir.