Presidents pick up €799k in pay-outs

Ireland’s three living presidents shared a massive €799,181.03c pension, salary and allowance pot last year — and returned just €91,081.96c to the hard-pressed public they serve.

Details revealed in a series of Department of Finance accounts show the windfall was handed over to Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D Higgins, who romped to election victory last November.

They also reveal that in the 51 days after the Nov 11 election last year new President Michael D Higgins received €1,750 a day in salary and allowance, while his predecessor Mary McAleese had a €330 per day pension.