Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding expenditure of public money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39736/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that under the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 ministerial pensions, including the pensions of former Taoisigh, are no longer payable to sitting Members of the Oireachtas following the recent elections, or to Members of the European Parliament following the next elections to the Parliament. In addition, the Act also provided for a 25% reduction in the pension payable at the time to the former Taoiseach while a Member of the Oireachtas.

The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010, which is also part of the EU-IMF Programme, imposed a Public Service Pension Reduction on public service pensions in payment, including the pensions of former Taoisigh and Presidents. The reduction rates were:

I recently announced the Government's intention to increase the top rate of the Public Service Pension Reduction from 12% to 20% in respect of pension amounts over €100,000. This is to be given effect by way of an amendment to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011, which is currently before the Oireachtas.