Higgins to seek legal advice over travel expenses use

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins is to seek legal advice over expenses he claimed for travel outside of his constituency.

Officials have signalled the money may need to be paid back. Legal advice emerged from the Oireachtas on the issue last night.

The controversy over travel expenses was raised last week when Socialist TD Clare Daly said she had claimed expenses for trips made around the country campaigning against the household tax.

Colleagues Joe Higgins and Joan Collins have also said they claimed expenses for similar purposes under the special travel and accommodation allowance.

Last night, the Oireachtas said: “The advice received reaffirms the view... that the specific travel aspects of this allowance are intended to support TDs in travel to and from Leinster House and their normal place of residence/constituency only.”

Amounts claimable range from €12,000 to €37,000 for TDs, depending on how far they live from the Dáil.

The three Dublin TDs earlier this week said they were “absolutely justified” using the expenses for work outside their constituencies.

Ms Daly said last night: “I haven’t seen the statement yet. We’ve no problem sitting down discussing this with officials.

“We did nothing against the spirit of the regulation.”

Mr Higgins said he was seeking a meeting with Oireachtas officials over “much more detail” that needed to be clarified.

He said he wanted a copy of their legal advice, and would seek his own independent legal advice, on the belief expenses can be incurred in the performance of duties as a TD.

He said if it emerged the interpretation of the rules was wrong, he would “reconcile” the €935 which he claimed.