Removal of pensions suggestion a good idea

The suggestion by Minister Joe Costello that the approval of the electorate in a referendum would be sufficient to stop the payment of pensions and allowances to those against whom adverse findings have been made by the Mahon Tribunal reports is worthy of serious consideration as an unambiguous component of reform.

This question could be posed when the referendum on the Fiscal Treaty takes place. This would afford the electorate an opportunity to have their say about the impunity with which pervasive embedded corruption, inappropriate entitlement, untrustworthiness and political depravity flourished.

Last September a supplementary estimate of €13.963m was quietly and privately passed by the Oireachtas Commission to fund pensions and allowances for former members. This was a 125% increase on the original 2011 estimate. A referendum would allow the electorate express their view on the scale of these payouts.