POLITICIANS WHO resign or lose their seats at election time should receive a “basic redundancy package” with no extra payments, Sinn Féin TD Peadar Tóibín has said.
The Meath West deputy said “millions of euro” were being paid to former ministers, TDs and senators this year.
“Figures released to me through the Department of Finance highlight the scandalous sums of money being paid to former politicians.
“For instance, Bertie Ahern will receive €78,000 this year, while [former Kerry South Independent] Jackie Healy-Rae will receive more than €88,000.
“All sitting TDs who are in receipt of a severance payment for former ministers or ministers of State – such as Willie O’Dea, Billy Kelleher and Dara Calleary – should return those severance packages to the State.”
Mr Tóibín said that with “such a high turnover” of TDs and senators in the recent elections the State was facing a bill of €5.3 million in severance payments over the course of the year.
“At a time when harsh austerity measures, supported by this and the previous government, are causing huge hardship for thousands of families across the State these payments are grossly insulting, particularly when many of those in receipt of this money are guilty of causing the economic mess we are in today.
“Sinn Féin believes that politicians who lose or resign their seats should be entitled to a basic redundancy package similar to other workers. There is no reason for these extra payments to be made,” Mr Tóibín said.
