Ex-taoisigh to lose just €4k in pension cut

BRIAN COWEN and Bertie Ahern face pension cuts of less than 3% under plans to impose new levies on the gold-plated payments to retired public servants.

Their €151,000-a-year pensions will be reduced by about €4,000 a year under measures announced by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

Mr Howlin said retired politicians, judges, hospital consultants, university heads, semi-state bosses and former presidents are among those who will be affected by a 20% cut in the portion of their pensions above €100,000.