Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Every Member of this House will have encountered considerable annoyance and a sense of grievance at people walking away from public life with fat pensions. In outlining some of the facts, I do not speak to the Fianna Fáil benches in any pointed way. It is interesting to consider the reductions for the current crop of politicians. In 2009, Brian Cowen earned €285,000 as Taoiseach. The new rate of pay for the current Taoiseach is €185,350 before the pay rate deduction which will reduce his income to €167,000, which represents a 41% decrease since 2009. Ministers have taken deductions of 36%. I will come to the pensions issue.