Former Government Ministers paid almost €4m in pension payments last year

Former Government Ministers received almost €4m in pension payments last year, according to Department of Finance figures.

Figures show former president Mary McAleese received €137,749, while her predecessor Mary Robinson received €121,158.

Some €3.8m in total was paid to former Ministers and Taoisigh.

Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen were paid €83,918 each - not including their on their TD's pension of €53,291 each.

Ex Taoiseach John Bruton got €75,713, former justice minister Michael McDowell received €67,456, while former Tánaiste Mary Harney got €65,919.

Pensions and lump sums for former judges totalled €8.5m.

A severance payment of almost €34,000 was made to former Justice Minister Alan Shatter while ex-minister of state and Renua leader Lucinda Creighton got €5,389 in severance.

Some of the other pension payments include €27,069 to Mary Coughlan, €51,178 to Mary Hanafin, €54,738 to Mary O'Rourke, €47,219 to Alan Dukes and €15,451 to Ivor Callely.