Greens in the black as extra €1.5m kicks in
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the Green Party's TDs will pick up an extra €1.5m for sticking with Fianna Fail in Government for a full five-year term.
Aside from the ministerial salaries, the Green backbenchers are taking their slice from the Oireachtas committees' cake worth €900,000 per annum.
All six of the Green Party TDs are now picking up an additional payment from being in coalition, worth €300,000 a year in total.
If the Greens last the full five-year course, that's an extra €1.5m in income for their TDs.
The Irish Independent's study of TDs' pay shows the salaries of party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan and Junior Minister Trevor Sargent benefiting substantially from their ministerial posts.
But party backbenchers Paul Gogarty, Ciaran Cuffe and Mary White also occupy committee posts with extra payments attached.
Mr Gormley and Mr Ryan are now both on €214,344 a year, compared to the €101,446 and €95,363 they would earn respectively if still in opposition.
Mr Sargent now makes €147,284, compared to the €101,446 he would earn had he not recommended his party go into Government.
Mr Gormley and Mr Sargent would qualify for long-service bonuses of €6,083 as both have more than 10 years' experience. These long-service increments are not paid to ministers.
Aside from that, one of the party's TDs would get a payment of €6,072 as the party whip.
But after that, the Greens wouldn't get any additional cash. Being in Government though, the party benefits from the perks of power.
Mr Gogarty is chairman of the Oireachtas education committee, earning him an extra €19,058 a year, Mr Cuffe is vice-chairman of the Oireachtas economic regulatory affairs committee with a stipend of €9,747 and Ms White is convenor of the Arts, Sport, Tourism Committee with an extra €6,072.
If they were in opposition, all three would only be entitled to their basic salaries of €95,363.
- Fionnan Sheahan
