If the Government sees fit to introduce a pension levy on public sector workers, then it must also end the practice of paying ministerial pensions to sitting TDs.
This is the view of Galway West TD Noel Grealish who said the Government must show “solidarity with these public sector workers” and “lead, not just by rhetoric, but more importantly, by example and action”.
Dep Grealish said the practice of paying ministerial pensions to sitting TDs and “the exorbitant and unjustified payments” being made to Oireachtas committee chairs, vice chairs, and convenors is a case of “the gravy train gone totally off the rails”.
Some 26 sitting TDs receive ministerial pensions on top of their full TD salaries. In total, this dual payment is costing more than €600,000 annually. The Carnmore man said is was an “outrage” that ministerial pensions continue to be paid to sitting TDs during a recession.
Dep Grealish is also calling for “an immediate end” to the payments being made to the 23 Oireachtas committee chairs, vice chairs, and convenors. These positions carry a remuneration of approximately €20,000, €10,000, and €6,000.
“I fail to see why elected members of Dáil Éireann, who are already being paid a TD’s salary, should be further remunerated for doing something which should constitute a normal part of their work,” said Dep Grealish.
Dep Grealish said the ministerial pensions and Oireachtas committee payments, which cost the exchequer €1.5 million per year cannot be justified “in the current economic climate, when the basic level of social welfare payment is roughly €10,600 annually”.
