TDs pushing for €10-a-week Budget hike to state pension

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Hugh O'Connell

FINE Gael TDs are pushing for an increase in the State pension of as much as €10-a-week in the Budget as Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also heard calls from his own party to abandon plans for a pandemic bonus and the expected increase in carbon tax.

Former minister Paul Kehoe told the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday that plans to offer frontline workers vouchers of up to €500 as a reward for their efforts during the pandemic was a “mad crazy idea”.