Paschal Donohoe confirms he signed off on €300k Nóirín O’Sullivan payoff

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has revealed he personally signed off on Nóirín O’Sullivan’s pension package, but denied it amounted to a “sweetener” to facilitate her exit.

Mr Donohoe confirmed he gave the go-ahead to include the seven-month period she served as acting commissioner toward her pension, which pushed her over a crucial three-year mark enabling her to receive a full commissioner’s pension.

Mr Donohoe, speaking to reporters in Dublin, said he signed off on the pension deal — believed to involve a €300,000 tax-free lump sum and an annual pension of between €90,000 and €100,000 — but that it was “entirely consistent” with existing policy.