Sinn Féin mulls higher salaries for TDs

Sinn Féin TDs are in favour of scrapping the party’s industrial wage pay cap, which would more than double their pay overnight, saying there is no point in forcing politicians to stay in “poverty” in order to keep them “pure”.

Health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and long-time backbench TD Seán Crowe said they will back any pay policy change, while potential future leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Pearse Doherty confirmed they are “open” to the idea, after it emerged removing the salary restriction is being considered by the party’s hierarchy.

Speaking at Sinn Féin’s weekend ard fheis, the party’s southern policy director, Ken O’Connell, said the “one size fits all” salary cap was to be reviewed “in the near future”.