Outgoing Cavan-Monaghan TD and Minister, Heather Humphreys is to receive over €85,000 from the State after leaving her job. The Minister for Social Protection and Rural Affairs announced her retirement from politics in October ahead of the general election. She cited work/life balance and lack of energy as her reasons for bowing out.
Now, her name appears on a list of payments to be made to TDs and ministers who have either stepped down like Leo Varadkar or failed to get re-elected like Catherine Martin. According to the list published in the Irish Independent, Heather Humphreys will receive a lump sum of €18,946.50 along with a termination payment of €66,312.74 from her time in Dáil Éireann.
Meanwhile, the Green Party's Catherine Martin who is originally from Carrickmacross and served as Media Minister in the last Dáil is to receive the same €18,946.50 lump sum and €42,629.64 as a termination payment. She was not re-elected when the general election came around. Former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar is to get less than five euro shy of €90,000 as will former Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. According to the Oireachtas website, a TD's basic salary while in office is €113,000 while a senator earns almost €80,000. Recent media reports state outgoing TD pensions after this general election will cost the taxpayer €3.9 million.
