Ex-taoisigh to be given secretarial help and VIP access at airport
Varadkar overturns 2012 decision to remove perk
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has reversed a 2012 decision not to provide secretarial and flight assistance to former taoisigh – meaning whenever he leaves office, he will be able to avail of the perk.
The office of the Taoiseach abolished secretarial allowances for all former taoisigh in 2012 after they mounted to over €1.6m.
But the ban has been quietly lifted from 2019, although a spokesman for the Taoiseach wasn’t specific about when the decision was made.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach’s office confirmed to the Irish Mail on Sunday that a series of financial supports are again being offered to former taoisigh.
The questions about the policy U-turn were submitted after the MoS received correspondence under the Freedom of Information Act.
It showed that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was granted €13,045.41 for secretarial assistance this year – the first time this has been paid in seven years.
Mr Ahern was granted secretarial assistance on nine separate payments of €1,449.49 across July, August and September of this year.
He was also allowed an additional spend of €450 for ‘platinum services’ at Dublin Airport for a flight departing on July 1 this year and returning on July 14. Platinum services for VIPs at Dublin Airport include a private terminal entrance, a private security area and a private check-in and luggage handling. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach’s office told the MoS: ‘Supports in place for former taoisigh which were administered by this Department ceased in 2012 following a decision by the then taoiseach.
‘The current Taoiseach subsequently approved the provision of assistance by this Department to former taoisigh to support them in carrying out aspects of work associated with their former role which remain after their period in office has ceased.
‘They outlined that the supports currently available on request to all former Taoisigh from 2019 include:
• Briefing material on the Government’s policy position on a matter of public debate;
• Assistance when required from the Department of Foreign Affairs and/or use of private facilities at Dublin Airport when travelling abroad to carry out aspects of work associated with their former role;
• The invoiced cost of secretarial assistance to support them to carry out work associated with their former role excluding any associated office costs; and
• The provision of transport to a limited number of events associated with their former role, including important State functions.
Mr Ahern was appointed chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission in Papua New Guinea in December 2018, an appointment which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking with the MoS this week, he explained that his work on conflict resolution with the UN is approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but funding for some assistance comes from the Taoiseach’s office.
‘Most of my life now I spend on conflict resolution and this particular work is massively time consuming. I’m back and forward a lot, and report back to the Department of Foreign Affairs all the time,’ he said.
Under the scheme for former taoisigh, Mr Ahern has received the most financial assistance for his work.
The cost of secretarial assistance for Mr Ahern since he left office has now amounted to a total €421,769, including this year’s spend.
He is followed by the late Albert Reynolds who claimed €369,281 for secretarial assistance; the late Dr Garret FitzGerald claimed €303,465; John Bruton received €275,600; the late Charles Haughey claimed €199,887 and Brian Cowen claimed the least for secretarial assistance at €54,999.