A strongly worded letter is being sent from Lismore Town Council to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin and an Taoiseach Enda Kenny, about the need to reduce the large pensions of retired politicians and senior servants.

The move follows on from a motion tabled at the previous meeting by Cllr Orla Russell. She was forced to withdraw the motion on a technicality and wasn’t allowed to resubmit it. However, she said she still felt very strongly about the matter. A Fine Gael politician herself, she said it wasn’t about politics, “it’s about people.”

Cllr John Heneghan felt the council should support the spirit of the motion. “Some of them are getting more per day than teachers starting out get for a day’s work. It’s a crazy situation,” he said.  “Some are getting more than when they were working,” Cllr Bernard Leddy pointed out.

Cllr Jimmy O’Gorman agreed with the sentiments of the motion too as did Cllr Jan Rotte. It was agreed to write to Minister Howlin and the Taoiseach to let them know their views on the matter.