Outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny's €2m pension pot 'cannot be justified at this time'
Enda Kenny will receive a lump sum payment of €378,000 and an annual pension of €126,000, the Dáil has been told.
The figures would bring the outgoing Taoiseach's pension pot to over €2m - although he won't be entitled to claim any of it until he retires from the Dáil.
Solidarity TDs yesterday complained that Mr Kenny's entitlements are unjustifiable at a time when the Government is preparing to charge public sector workers more for their pensions.
Mick Barry asked Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe: "How can the minister defend a lump sum payment of €378,000 plus €126,000 per year for the departing Taoiseach while at the same time attempting to defend these scandalous two-tier pay rates for young workers in our public services?"
Mr Donohoe said he would be seeking to secure an agreement on public sector pay "that recognises the contributions of 308,000 public servants to our country, society and economy".
"On the issue of pensions, we must acknowledge that the average level of public pension in this State is €23,000. By January 1, 2018, anybody earning a pension below €32,400 will see the public service pension reduction eliminated."
He added: "There are no princes or princesses in our party. We are a party that represents all levels of society, those with and those without."
Irish Independent
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