Kenny ‘demeaning his office’ over call for pension refusals

Fianna Fáil has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of “demeaning his office” by calling on Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen to refuse big pension increases.

With the two former taosigh, who both took €134,000 in pension payments last year, being questioned by an Oireachtas probe on their roles in the boom and bust financial crash, Fianna Fáil insisted the onus should not be on them to hand back planned increases of some €2,000 a year.

The row came as Mr Kenny warned it was up to the former politicians to act in the best interest of a “fragile” economy after he told angry Fine Gael backbenchers he would not block the payments with new legislation.

“I would say to the small number involved here. They’re former politicians. We’re in a fragile position economically. I would say to them — refuse the increase that is coming back,” the Taoiseach said during a visit to Italy.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan defended the payments to ex-politicians such as Mary Harney and Charlie McCreevy, saying that it would be unconstitutional to deny the increases to certain individuals as they were part of an across the board rise under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

Former taoiseach John Bruton, however, has stated he will comply with Mr Kenny’s request to voluntarily decline the proposed ministerial pension increase.

The timing of the planned increases is especially embarrassing as it coincides with Mr Cowen, who received a pension of €134,379 last year, and former finance minister Mr McCreevy, who received €108,292, giving evidence to the Oireachtas probe into the financial collapse.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who took €134,431 in pension payments last year, will be questioned by the investigation next week.

Fianna Fáil accused Mr Kenny of behaving in a “fraudulent” manner on the issue.

“If the Government wants to ensure that those who hold generous state pensions do not benefit from increases they are introducing, the answer is very simple, they should either not introduce them or impose additional taxation,” an FF spokesperson said.