Former Labour TD Emmet Stagg is receiving almost €70,000 worth of a redundancy package from the State after losing his seat at the Oireachtas in this year's general election.
Stagg has been a prominent political figure for 40 years, having first been elected in the North Kildare constituency in 1987, but he lost his seat this year as Catherine Murphy, James Lawless, Frank O'Rourke and Bernard Durkan were all voted in as representatives for the area.
Figures published by the Oireachtas yesterday showed that there was €3.4 million set aside this year to pay off the 86 TDs and senators who lost their seats, with an average 'termination payment' of €40,000 to each one. A further €109,000 will be given out next year in payments.
A spokeswoman said: "In general terms, 67 TDs vacated seats as a direct result of the 2016 General Election," said a spokeswoman for the Oireachtas.
"Of these 67, eight former TDs were elected to the Seanad and a further six were nominated to the Seanad by an Taoiseach leaving a total eligible for termination payments of 53.
"Thirty-six Senators vacated seats following the 2016 Seanad election but one of these was re-nominated by an Taoiseach to the Seanad giving a net of 35 vacated seats." She added two former Senators are not eligible for termination payments.
"Therefore the total number entitled for termination payments on foot of the General Election is 86."
Mr Stagg confirmed to KildareNow this morning that he is receiving a payment following his failure to be reelected to the Dáil, but he refused to give a comment at this time.
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