The former chief whip and the current Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty has been informed by the Department of Public Expenditure that she will have to pay back an allowance of almost €16,000.
Ms Doherty who received the hefty allowance whilst she was in her former role, has been informed that she will have to return the allowance as there is no legal grounds for her to keep the money as she is no longer in the position.
The ruling comes after the current Labour party leader Brendan Howlin brought up the subject of allowance payments to ministers who have since left their position, in a previous Dáil meeting.
In a brief statement explaining their decision a spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform said: “Following advice from the Attorney General – we (the department) feel it would be wrong and unfair to pay Ms Doherty the allowance as it had no legal basis.”