Ex-TDs receive €5.3m golden handshakes

MORE than €5.3 million was paid in golden handshake payments to 75 TDs who lost their seats or retired in February’s general elections.

And a further €445,000 was awarded to ministers or junior ministers of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition to compensate for losing their salaries after their election defeat.

This was reduced to €373,000 after a number decided to waive their entitlement.