Political pensions

DOES Micheál Martin think the public are totally ignorant of the fact that if he lost an election, he would be on the dole (‘Martin defends triple pension benefit’, April 28) .

I am sure the majority of decent people made redundant would like the cushion of a ministerial pension plus that of a TD, in addition to a severance bonus for each of his 20 years of service and a few more perks as well.

This is a prime example of the self-indulgence exhibited by our political leaders for the past 30 years or so.

Mr Martin was very loud in condemning experts and economists two years ago when they predicted the slump.

By not giving up his post he is denying a young teacher the right to a permanent post.

Mr Martin is not alone in this; there are many more TDs and senators bleeding the already anaemic taxpayers for what they can get out of them.

The Government’s sell-by date is past.

We need new faces in the Dáil who will work for the good of the country, not the self-serving politicians we have had for far too long.

Séamus Casey

Cork Street

Macroom

Co Cork