PENSION IT OFF
Most voters don’t want Higgins to accept extra payment if re-elected
THE majority of Irish voters think Michael D Higgins should disavow his State pension while President.
Although the 77-year-old is soaring ahead in approval polls, 60% of the electorate believe he should not be collecting the money while in office.
It was recently revealed the President still accepts a pension of €19,000 a year from his time as a lecturer at NUI Galway.
The Paddy Power opinion poll carried out by Red C found 19% of voters also think he should only be paid minimum wage.
A spokesman said: “Paddy Power revealed earlier this week Michael D Higgins looks on course for a landslide victory in the Presidential election in less than two weeks’ time, with 70% support from the Irish electorate.
“But these latest results reveal that while the incumbent remains the clear favourite, the bulk of people don’t think he should be allowed to draw down a State pension from a previously held position while sitting.” But the Irish electorate believe State pension payments to any President should be disallowed.
The poll results show this is more of an issue with Fianna Fail (65%) and Sinn Fein (74%) supporters.
The majority of the Irish population believe the President should earn some sort of a living wage, while 81% disagree with the salary being reduced to a minimum. However 31% of Sinn Fein voters are in favour of Michael D taking a cut. Other results of the survey found 61% would like to see the prospect of a united Ireland, but 47% believe a hard border is the most likely result of Brexit negotiations. More than one in four (26%) believe the Good Friday Agreement could be altered to accommodate a final deal.