Department of Finance figures show nearly €4m paid to former ministers last year

New figures show former taoiseach Bertie Ahern surrendered €14,600 of his €83,300 pension last year.


This evening the Department of Finance has published the list of ministerial retirement payments and how much has been handed back to the State.

Pensions are paid to politicians who have been ministers in previous cabinets.

The total value of ministerial pensions was €4.1m. The total amount surrendered was €178,600.

Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore are both entitled to small pensions of €2,000 and €800 respectively. They both surrendered the pensions.

Members of the current Cabinet who got small pensions in 2011 before entering Government have all handed them back, with the exception of Michael Noonan, who gave his to charity.

European Commissioner Maura Geoghegan-Quinn surrendered her entire pension of almost €60,000.
Pádraig Flynn did not surrender any of his €47,800 pension.

Albert Reynolds did not hand back any of his €99,600 pension.

John O'Donoghue did not surrender any of his €53,000 pension.

Dick Spring did not hand back any of his €71,000 pension.

Michael D Higgins surrendered his full €6,000 pension.

Michael Wood handed back €4,100 of his €64,100 pension.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0928/former-ministers-pensions.html