Higgins donates his Dáil pension

MEP JOE Higgins has donated almost €10,000 of income from his Dáil pension to a “pension solidarity fund” designed to assist campaigns.

Mr Higgins began receiving a Dáil pension after losing his seat in the 2007 general election. On being elected to the European Parliament last year, he continued to receive this pension as well as his MEP salary.

Shortly after his election to Europe, Mr Higgins said he would donate his Dáil pension to a fund administered by the Socialist Party.

Figures released by Mr Higgins yesterday show the former socialist TD received an after-tax pension of €9,596.70 between August 1st, 2009, and December 31st, 2009, which was donated to the “pension solidarity fund”.

Of this, €2,050 was donated to the Say No to Lisbon Campaign, €1,000 to the Coca-Cola Workers Strike Support Fund, €1,000 to the Dublin Dockers Strike Support Group and €1,000 to the Green Isle Workers Strike Hardship Fund. Some €2,560 consisted of smaller donations to 19 groups and organisations, with the balance of €1,986.70 brought forward to 2010.

Mr Higgins also said yesterday that he would to publish income and expenditure details relating to his first five months in the European Parliament in the next few weeks. During his European election campaign, Mr Higgins pledged to live on the average industrial wage if elected, using any other allowances for necessary expenditure such as travel.