Oireachtas extravagance is a national scandal

The letter from Michael O’Connell (Irish Examiner Oct 9) on the pensions and lump sums paid to former and sitting members of Dáil Eireann was factual and timely.

Timely, in the sense that with the country in financial crisis, how these public representatives can justify these outlandish and exorbitant lump sums and pensions I do not know.

Seanad Éireann is another cosy cartel, a convalescent home for defeated TDs until the next general election.