It’s hard to believe but it’s true.
Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe signed off on a 5 year deal which will see politicians line their pockets by the taxpayer to a total of €2.2 million.
The deal was done swiftly on the evening of January 24th and will see over €1m for the chairpersons of Oireachtas committees and €543,000 for TDs who serve as party whips or assistants.
Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath and Defence Minister Paul Kehoe – are entitled to an increase of more than €15,000. That’s on top of their junior minister-level salaries of €121,639.
The Government chief whip Regina Doherty gets another €16k on top of her €87 already in her pocket.
The allowances are on top of a TD’s salary of €87,258. It’ll now rise to €90,000.
It’s very hard to see the justification for these increases when so many people sleep rough around the Dail each night.
