Number of ex-ministers hand back payments

The figures show that while numerous former ministers enjoy huge pensions, some are volunteering money back to the State because of the condition of the public finances.

A number of them completely relinquished ministerial pensions or severance payments to which they were entitled last year.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin surrendered all €61,318 of the severance payment he was due after resigning from Cabinet last year.

His fellow TDs Éamon Ó Cuiv (€46,094) and Brendan Smith (€46,094) did likewise.

However, some serving Fianna Fáil politicians who had been ministers retained their severance payments, according to the figures.

They included Billy Kelleher (€24,205), and Willie O’Dea (€8,063).

A number of the current Cabinet members also surrendered small ministerial pension entitlements which had kicked in from previous stints in government.

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny surrendered €2,050, while Richard Bruton surrendered €1,926 and Jimmy Deenihan €798.

Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore surrendered €979, while Ruairi Quinn surrendered €5,801, Joan Burton €1,123 and Pat Rabbitte €800.

Some former ministers who are no longer in the Dáil or Seanad but are still working in politics or elsewhere also surrendered their ministerial pensions.

They included EU Commissioner and former Fianna Fáil minister Máire Geoghehan Quinn, who surrendered all €59,895 to which she was entitled last year.

Former Labour minister Eithne Fitzgerald surrendered her pension worth €16,989.

MEP Liam Aylward surrendered a ministerial pension worth €10,223, Gay Mitchell surrendered his €4,611 while former MEP Proinsias de Rossa surrendered his €10,595 due.

Then there was a cohort of former ministers and office-holders who volunteered a portion of their pensions.

Bertie Ahern surrendered €14,618 of his €83,341 ministerial pension last year.

Liam Cosgrave Sr surrendered €5,000 of his €71,814 pension.

Rory O’Hanlon surrendered €7,042 of his €61,427 pension, Mary O’Rourke €3,886 of her €57,808 pension, Frank Fahey €5,204 of his €53,578 pension, and Ned O’Keeffe €1,872 of his €13,902 pension.