Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The same applied to Deputy Kelly when he was a Minister. The point is there is a set rate. In respect of any increases that have come the way of Ministers in the last number of years, they gifted them back. We decided to make it cleaner yesterday by saying 10% across the board, which in my case will result in gifting back close to €25,000 to the State. That is a gift back but it is a de facto cut, as well, in what one would ordinarily receive. The Deputy is correct that the pension entitlement relates to the rate the salary is set at, although I point out that back in 2010, I took a significant cut in pension because I stayed on in politics and I gave back a severance of about €80,000.

I just want to make that point because these things do not get said and I never want to say them. I just did it and got on with it. I am not in here for that side of things. If I was, I would have been out of here a long time ago.

In respect of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, the matter did not have to go before Cabinet. My understanding is that there is a security dimension to that, which I am not going to interfere with.

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