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

The advantage conferred on former Ministers and taoisigh is self-evident in the eye-watering level of pension they enjoy. I know the Minister disagrees with me on this point. Those pensions are indefensible, and were always indefensible, but particularly so given the era of austerity that has been visited on people throughout the country, which was delivered by some of the very same individuals who are on grossly excessive pensions. I do not know how anybody could justify a pension of €134,000 for the Taoiseach who presided over calamity, crash and chaos but, my God, anybody who argues that this pension should be bumped up by a further €1,600 or €1,700 is truly demented.

The advantage is clear.

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