No special privileges

Fine Gael promised to abolish the Seanad during the last general election campaign. That was always easier promised than done, because only the electorate can abolish the Seanad in a constitutional referendum.

People will no doubt be shocked, however, to learn that local councillors who were elected to the Seanad are entitled to gratuity payments — in some instances, up to over €47,000, if they are over 50 years of age.

Senator David Cullinane of Sinn Féin denounced the gratuity payment system. He argued that such payments should only be made when people reach pensionable age.

It is an outrage that politicians accord themselves special privileges denied to the public. That is an affront to true republicanism.

There should be no special privileges for politicians any more than the state should provide special privileges for the clergy.

It is time that the Irish people demanded an end to this.

Are the former councillors being paid for the supposed inconvenience of moving to the Seanad, where they receive an annual salary of €65,621, plus generous expenses? This is an outrage.