THE REPORT of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in September 2007 recommended that the salary of the taoiseach be increased by 14 per cent from €271,882 to €310,000.
This increase was not accepted by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The pension implication of not accepting the increase was €22,902. Bertie Ahern retired as taoiseach on a pension of €111,235.20.
Mr Ahern’s pension is currently €83,426.40, arising from the reduction of 25 per cent which was applied as he remains a member of Dáil Éireann. After tax Mr Ahern’s pension is circa €43,000.
If Mr Ahern had accepted the recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector (September 2007), his pension would have been €134,137, it is however €83,426 before tax and circa €43,000 after tax.
Mr Ahern supports the legislative changes that have been introduced by the Government and if the Government wants him to do something else, he will consider that.