Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Of course, the commitment in respect of serving Ministers is not set out in the legislation; it is voluntary in nature but never mind that. How will Mr. Brian Cowen, former Taoiseach, who is currently struggling manfully on a pension of €134,000 fare or John Bruton, former Taoiseach, on a pension of €126, 000? What of "We have it so we will spend it", former Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, on a pension of €108,000? All of these will be in receipt of a restoration of pension under the Minister's legislation, which is a disgraceful notion. For him to try to pretend that this is progressive in any way is laughable and well he knows it. What about Ivor Callely, who has a conviction for mobile telephone expenses fraud and who is on a pension of €62,000, or Mr. Ray Burke, who has a conviction for tax offences, yet is in receipt of a pension currently of more than €95,000?

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