Two new MEPs have been paid nearly €225,000 euro in retirement lump-sums

Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher has received a lump-sum payment of nearly €152,000 for his time in the Oireachtas.

The former TD was elected to the European Parliament in May, and received the tax-free payment for his long term as a Dáil deputy.

Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald got a similar payment of nearly €73,000.

She was elected to the parliament in the Dublin constituency in May, and left her Dáil seat.