Brian Cowen has again refused to call on Máire Geoghegan Quinn to forego her €108,000 Irish pension.

But the Taoiseach’s denying it puts him at odds with members of his Cabinet – who have openly called on the European Commissioner to “do the right thing”.

Throughout the day, Ministers expressed the view that Máire Geoghegan Quinn should hand back her Irish pension.

The taxpayer here is forking out over €2,000 every week for that pension, on top of €4,000 plus a week that she gets paid for her new Brussels job.

The Taoiseach has again refused to call on Mrs. Geoghegan Quinn to give up the Irish pension, but denies that puts him at odds with around half the Cabinet.

“I’ve asked that perhaps the matter be considered and reflected on by Máire Geoghegan Quinn in that instance and that’s the general position for every pensioner” he said.

“That has been always the position – that we’re simply saying this is an individual matter for individual people” he added.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail’s Mary O’Rourke has also added her voice to the call on Maire Geoghegan Quinn to give up her two pensions.

“Well what I think she should do is give it up – but I don’t think she will do it” she said.

“It is legally her money; the way some people are going on you’d think it was that she got illegally – it is her due”.

“But in the time that we’re living in, I just don’t think it’s appropriate that she would take it” she added.

The Government is insisting all that can be legally done in this area has been, and that it will apply from the next election.