Pay for MEPs: Time to halt the gravy train

The European Parliament has an important role in the government of the union, but its enduring reluctance to deal with its warranted reputation as a gravy train damages its standing and emboldens Eurosceptics across the continent.

As the Irish Examiner revealed yesterday, the outgoing Cork MEP Brian Crowley — whose health condition has prevented him from attending the parliament since the last election, in 2014 — will be entitled to severance payments of more than €350,000 and a €1.4m pension package.