Finance Minister Brian Lenihan says it’s up to Maire Geoghegan Quinn to decide what to do about her Irish pension.

He says he cannot legally strip her of the €100,000 pension.

It follows calls from three government ministers for Ireland’s EU Commissioner to forego the payment while carrying out her duties in Europe.

Minister Lenihan says the feelings of politicians here can’t be seen to be influencing the Commissioner, but she has some thinking to do.

“So she’s exercising political leadership in Europe; and in fact as I understand it, she took a declaration on her appointment not to be influenced by an member state” he said.

“I really think it is a matter for herself”.

“But having said that, I think there’s an onus on everyone who has a generous pension from the State to consider their options in this situation” he added.