Politicians’ pensions - Perks they can’t give up

EVEN in the best of times politicians salaries and pensions generated considerable debate but today that debate is infused with anger and a sense of inequity.

The debate, which became more and more heated as the level of the gravy-train indulgences were revealed, afforded political parties several opportunities to play the populist card and, last April, Fine Gael availed of that opportunity.

They announced that sitting Fine Gael deputies would not claim ministerial pensions while they remained Dáil members. Therefore it is deeply disappointing to discover that four FG deputies, including Finance spokesman Michael Noonan, still claim the allowance. One Fianna Fáil deputy continues to claim the allowance.

This is the kind of hypocrisy and dishonesty that has undermined the practice of politics. That the behaviour comes from the party expected to lead the next government is deeply disappointing and worrying.