Taoiseach silent on pension claims

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has refused to be drawn on claims that his taxpayer-funded pension would cost €3.2m in the private sector.

Research suggests pension entitlements for the 15 Cabinet members at the scheduled end of the present Dáil in 2016 would amount to €36.3m if purchased on the open market.

By 2016, Mr Kenny will be entitled to a yearly pension of €100,000, and would also be eligible for a “golden goodbye” pay-off of €139,008 — taking his full pension entitlement to €3,429,728.

A survey by The Irish Times also estimates Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will be able to draw down a yearly pension of €83,029 by 2016 — an amount that would cost €3,145,280 if obtained on the open market.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar would be the only present minister to fail to qualify for a pension that would cost at least €1m on the private market.

Deputies who entered the Dáil before 2004 are eligible for a full pension on retirement from office once they reach 50.

The survey claims that Public Expenditure Reform Minister Brendan Howlin, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, and Environment Minister Phil Hogan will amass pension pots equivalent to €3m each on the open market.

A spokesman for Mr Kenny declined to comment on the survey, or whether the Taoiseach believed his pension provision was suitable in the recession.

Under current rules, members of the Oireachtas pay 6% of their salaries to their pension entitlements and 8% to a public sector levy. No deductions from wages are required under the ministerial pension scheme.