pensions to charities

ootbitb

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/four-fine-gael-tds-still-claim-ministerial-pension-140526.html

I really don't understand why these over subsidised people think it is ok to continue drawing down this money because they say they are donating to some charity.

It would seem ,in the past at least, that charity begins at home with them.

mikemac

OP, you are making it difficult for mobile users, anyway

Eighteen TDs volunteered to "gift" their ministerial pensions to the state last April following public pressure. Controversy over such payments arose after it emerged Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was earning a €108,000 pension on top of her €243,000 salary as Ireland’s EU commissioner.

Fair enough

But the Department of Finance has confirmed that five TDs are continuing to draw down the payment, including Noel Treacy of Fianna Fáil and four others from Fine Gael.

Mr Noonan earned €30,000 in a ministerial pension so far this year on top of a TD’s salary of more than €90,000. He has insisted that this money was used for charitable donations.

Cork South West TD Jim O’Keeffe earned a pension of €13,789, but he also said it is given to various charities.

I never heard of Jim O'Keefe realy but now he is getting in the national news

Galway East TD Noel Treacy admitted in May he would be one of the only TDs not handing up their pensions, saying he would be giving it to various charities and voluntary organizations

He's done a lot of time as a Minster of State but he never made the top ranks, Albert or Bertie or Brian didn't rate him. If that's a good thing or a bad thing, his voters can decide

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has the highest ministerial pension of any sitting TD, at €98,901. But he has agreed to gift this back to the state until he retires from politics.

A true patriot

thebman

Can't they write the money donated to charity off their tax contributions though?

It seems it is just a clever game to cover up their additional income to me.

If they are just giving to charities then why not remove the perk and increase the states donations to charities rather than going through a middle man?

hmmm

Maybe taxpayers would prefer to have a say in how their money is being used, seeing as taxpayers are the one paying for this largesse. This is a weak answer from politicians, we have no way of knowing whether or not they are keeping the money. I suspect also the politicians hope this will all "blow over" and they will be able to pocket the money in the future, which is not the case if they had their salaries reduced officially.