Pat the Cope Gallagher and Jim Higgins are still recieving Ministerial and TD pension

Two former Government Ministers from Donegal are in receipt of pensions in excess of 70,000 euro.
Former Donegal North-East Deputy Jim McDaid and Northwest MEP and former Donegal South-West Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher are both receiving Ministerial and TD pensions.
Despite uproar last year over serving politicians drawing pensions, sitting Northwest MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher, who is a former Donegal South-West Deputy and Fianna Fail Minister is receiving a ministerial pension of just under 20,000 euro, while he is also receiving  a TD’s pension of just over 50,000 euro. Giving him a total Ministerial and TD pension of just over 70,000 euro.
This is on top of the current 91,000 euro salary he receives as a MEP. As a Member of the European Parliament he’s also entitled to a monthly allowance of 4-thousand-200-euro for office and other working expenses.
He’s also entitled to travel expenses and on top of that MEPs also get a daily allowance of three hundred and two euro which covers their daily accommodation and living expenses.
Another former Fianna Fail Minister Dr James McDaid receives a Ministerial pension of just over 47,000 euro, plus a TD’s pension of just under 50,000 euro. Giving the former Donegal North-East Deputy a total Ministerial and TD pension of just over 97,000 euro.
Meanwhile, Northwest MEP Jim Higgins receives a Ministerial Pension of just under 6,000 euro and a TD’s pension of just over 50,000 euro. Giving the former Fine Gael Deputy a total Ministerial and TD pension of just over 57,000 euro.
Mr Higgins also receives he current 91,000 euro salary as a MEP on top of expenses.
The list released by the Office of the Paymaster General doesn’t include former Tanaiste Mary Coughlans Ministerial and TD pension.
One reason may be that ministerial pensions are not paid to retirees under 50 – or until they turn 65, in the case of TD’s who first took ministerial office after 2004.