Updated at 9.07am
ALAN SHATTER COULD be about to break his silence on whether he will be accepting just over €70,000 of severance payments.
The former Minister for Justice has told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he will be making a statement on the matter later this afternoon.
Shatter’s office yesterday told TheJournal.ie that he had “no comment at this time” on the matter.
The announcement will take place after the election broadcast moratorium this afternoon.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he would be surprised if Shatter didn’t do the “honourable thing on this issue”.
“I’ve never been in any doubt about his intentions”, he said.
He was a party to the decision that ended the severance payments, it’s just my belief and from what I know of him that he would honour the decision.
The Taoiseach said he spoke to Shatter yesterday – “I speak to him all the time” – but that he didn’t raise the issue of severance pay.
“He’ll do the right thing anyway, I expect.”
Kenny also denied accusations that the decision to speak publicly on the issue twice yesterday didn’t indicate a breakdown of relationships in the party.
Shatter is entitled to €70,282 worth of these payments.
If accepted, he could receive roughly €4,392 every month for six months.
After this, the rate decreases to €2,928 for 12 months, and finally €1,464 for six months.
This is the equivalent of one year’s ministerial salary spread across two years, paid at decreasing rates.
Shatter is also entitled to a pension worth €18,139 from just his Ministerial service, payable from when he reaches pensionable age.
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