Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is giving TDs a ‘Budget Day’ pay increase of €3k – even though many of them don’t want it.

Some 26 TDs are due a €3,198 pay rise, while hard-pressed workers are expected to be hit with draconian tax hikes.

The so-called ‘loyalty payment’ is being paid out to members of all the main parties, as hundreds of thousands of ordinary workers face the dole or 10pc pay cuts.

However, a poll of Dublin TDs this morning suggests that the vast majority want to take the moral high ground and forego the seven years of service bonus.

While some said that they want a collective decision, Independent TD Finian McGrath said that he will not be accepting the money even if the Oireachtas allows it to be pushed through.

Deputy McGrath condemned Mr Lenihan for not pre-empting the controversy.

“It’s a very, very bad way of handling the whole thing,” he said, adding that it’s a decision that should have been taken before it came into the public domain.

“Now he will have to cave to public pressure but it could have been done quietly,” he said.

“Given that black Tuesday will be on April 7, I think TDs and members of the Oireachtas have a duty to lead on this issue,” he said.

“I have already taken a 10pc pay cut and pension levy making it nearly 20pc, but from a leadership point of view, as Brian Lenihan says 'we have to put everything on the table' so let put it up to them now.”

But Green Party Finance Spokesperson Dan Boyle was keen to point out that the increment “is different from a pay rise”.

He declined to say outright that money should not be paid, but instead said: “The idea of total salaries is going to be looked at anyway. As part of the total package of measures being put on the table, this can be looked at as well.”

TDs who were first elected in 2002 are due to see their salary rise from €101,191 to €103,389.

And 12 senators are in line for rise of €2,200, bringing their basic salary to €72,371.

The payments for TDs is due to come into effect at the same time that tax hikes hit ordinary PAYE workers.

The Herald earlier today attempted to contact all 10 Dublin representatives who are entitled to the bonus and discovered that most were unaware of their scheduled windfall.

Fianna Fail Senator Mary White said she believed there was “no need for pay increases”.

“The Government has to stop spending moneys so we shouldn't be taking it. They are going to increase their costs if they pay it,” she said.

Labour's Joanna Tuffy said she will be asking her party to raise the issue with the Government.

“I don't agree with this thing of one person taking a pay cut and another doesn't. It should be a decision by all of us in the Dail,” she said.

But the Dublin Mid-West TD added: “It should be postponed and I will ask the Labour Party to push this with Government.”

Aengus O Snodaigh of Sinn Fein said it would be “correct if it was deferred or cancelled altogether”.

And Cyprian Brady noted: “I would image in the present climate that Commission and the Department of Finance will look at any increments.

“Any changes like that are unlikely to go ahead.”

Fianna Fail’s Charlie O’Connor said: “I don’t think that it’s appropriate that we should take this.”

No response was received from the remaining Dublin TDs due to get the bonus. They are Paul Gogarty and Ciaran Cuffe of the Greens; Michael Mulcahy, of Fianna Fail, and Independent Fiona O'Malley.