Taoiseach Brian Cowen reiterated today that he was not in a position to force individuals to give up ministerial pensions.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon during Leaders Questions, Mr Cowen refused to comment on whether he had been in touch with sitting Fianna Fáil TDs Jim McDaid, Noel Treacy about giving up their pensions, or with MEP Pat 'the Cope' Gallaghter, who has also retained his pension.
Mr Cowen again stressed that the advice of the Attorney General is that it would be illegal to compulsorily take away pensions from sitting Oireachtas members, a fact disputed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
"If there are people who want to give up their pensions that is a matter for the individuals themselves," said Mr Cowen.
Mr Kenny accused the Taoiseach "of abdicating responsibility of leadership" by not addressing the issue and said he had received advice from three senior counsels, all of whom had advised him that the immediate scrapping of the pensions was legal.
"This is quite constitutional. You have already reduced ministerial pensions, which deals with the question of legitimate expectations. You have done that by Government decision," he said.
The Dáil and Seanad is this evening debating motions from Fine Gael calling on the Government to introduce legislation to stop the payment of pensions to serving politicians.
Speaking this evening, Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton said voters were appalled at the Government's refusal to deal with the issue.
"People are willing to make sacrifices if they see a government that insists on fairness. Instead, we have seen a government which is willing to give those who are most privileged the kid-glove treatment," he said.
"This is a time of great peril in Irish life. If those who are strong enough to resist change take steps to protect their privileges, then the impact of this crisis will fall entirely on those with weak bargaining power. The strain will be taken by the young who cannot find jobs, or by the sick who will find the services they thought they could rely on have gone," he added.
