Payback

Beverly Flynn is 41. If she retires at 65, that gives her 24 working years to pay off her €1.2m mortgage. At an interest rate of 5 per cent, that leaves her with monthly repayments of about €7000 a month.

The salary of a TD is about €5,500 after tax (which Beverly will have to pay, despite her advice to others!). In other words, poor Bev cannot hope to pay off her debts unless Bertie gives her a dig out by way of a ministerial salary. Go on Bertie, a friend in need and all that.