£2m in pensions and severance awarded to politicians last year

Politicians and former officeholders were awarded almost £2 million in pensions and severance payments last year.

Pensions, retirement lump sums and death gratuities to former members of the judiciary cost £1.5 million.

Mr Charles Haughey drew down one of the largest pensions of former office-holders last year. The size of his pension, £40,190, was surpassed only by the former comptroller and auditor general, Mr P.L. McDonnell, who got £41,273 in 1997.

Mr Michael Lowry received £28,057, the largest severance payment of former ministers, because he opted to front-load the payment in 1997.

Mr Ray Burke, who served in many ministries before his resignation late last year, drew a pension of £14,051 in 1997.

The pensions, salaries and allowances of former parliamentary office-holders are contained in the Finance Accounts for the year 1997, published by the Department of Finance yesterday. The payments distinguish between ongoing pension payments to those entitled to them, and short-term severance allowances for those who ceased to hold office.

It should be noted, in connection with the figures, that the rainbow coalition left office mid-way in 1997. The presidential election was also held in late 1997, with the President, Mrs McAleese, taking office on November 11th. Payment of ministerial pension also ceases on return to office.

Ten members of the rainbow coalition got severance payments of £17,388 each on leaving office last year. They are: Ms Niamh Bhreathnach, Mr Richard Bruton, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Mr Michael D. Higgins, Mr Brendan Howlin, Mr Enda Kenny, Mrs Nora Owen, Mr Mervyn Taylor and Mr Ivan Yates. The former attorney general, Mr Dermot Gleeson, and the retired ceann comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, received £17,388 each also.

Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party are among the new Opposition parties to be awarded allowances for expenses in 1977. Each party received £15,233.

The judiciary, including judges of the Supreme, High, Circuit and District Courts, cost the State £6.5 million in 1997. It is noted in the Finance Accounts that an overpayment of pension to a judge amounting to £4,037.98 gross, £2,128.51 net, was not recovered. A spokeswoman for the Department said that, having made the overpayment, it did not seek to recover it.