Pension payments not discussed

FIANNA FÁIL MEETING:THE CONTROVERSY surrounding pension payments to former ministers who are serving TDs, Senators or MEPs was not discussed at last night's meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

Galway East TD Noel Treacy, a former minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, spoke at the meeting.

According to provisional 2009 figures which have yet to be audited, Mr Treacy received a ministerial pension of €24,007.

Cork East deputy Ned O’Keeffe, who last night announced he would forgo his ministerial pension of €6,810, according to the same figures, also addressed the meeting.

However, the matter of ministerial pensions was never referred to, according to Laois-Offaly TD Seán Fleming and others.

“The issue wasn’t discussed, probably because there was a pre-arranged agenda. Mary Harney had been asked to come in and talk about the thalidomide issue.

“Then we spoke about Dermot Ahern’s response to the GRA . They were the two main items of business.”

Minister for Health Mary Harney outlined a Government compensation offer to thalidomide victims, which would include a once-off payment each of €62,500, an increase in the annual lump sum they receive of €3,680 and special care packages.

Some 17 Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators had signed a motion demanding a State apology for the victims, along with compensation.

A number of those who attended the meeting said that Ms Harney indicated she was prepared to deliver a Dáil statement similar to that given by her British counterpart in the House of Commons recently.

British health minister Mike O’Brien said “the British government wishes to express its sincere regret and deep sympathy for the injury and suffering endured by all those affected when expectant mothers took the drug thalidomide between 1958 and 1961”.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern explained why he withdrew from his scheduled appearance at the GRA annual conference.

Mr Ahern had been due to address gardaí in Limerick yesterday afternoon, but refused to attend because of the tone of a speech by GRA president Michael O’Boyce, circulated in advance but not delivered.