President is told to keep all his pay

Legislation says Higgins can no longer waive part of his €332k salary

- LOUISE BURNE

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins is no longer waiving part of his salary, the Irish Mirror can reveal.

His wage is now €332,017, but the 82-year-old is continuing to donate both his ministerial and Oireachtas pensions to the State.

When he entered office in 2011, Mr Higgins said he would forgo 23.5% of his salary and take a wage of €249,014.

It has been widely reported since then that this was his salary.

On the same day the presidential election took place in 2011, the public overwhelmingly backed reducing judicial salaries including the Chief Justice, whose salary was slashed from €295,916 to €226,376.

Legislation states the head of State must be paid 10% more than the Chief Justice.

While the referendum did not state the President must waive part of his €325,507 salary, he did so voluntarily.