SF silent over average wage query

Sinn Féin headquarters has refused to divulge whether or not it monitors the bank accounts of its TDs through local finance officers to ensure they only claim the average industrial wage.

There has been conflicting comments on the practice among the party’s TDs.

Foreign affairs spokesperson, Pádraig MacLochlainn, said bank accounts are checked but finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said this is not true.

“There would be somebody within the party in Donegal who would assist me in terms of my tax compliance as an employer.

“But this is not directed from the party, it’s a relationship I have with somebody locally as a friend.”

Mr MacLochlainn, however, said local finance officers make sure TDs draw down the average industrial wage and use the remainder of their €92,000 salary to hire staff. “They are to ensure that you have complied with party policy and you have invested the money back into your constituency service.”

Both TDs have admitted to using cash claimed from travel expenses to pay part-time party workers — a practice that is in breach of Oireachtas rules.

Mr Doherty spent €24,000 of the €33,000 that he received for travel and accommodation expenses last year. He repaid €845.05 to the Oireachtas Commission, leaving a surplus of €8,000 which was used to pay for part-time workers in his constituency.

He said he did not know he had broken any rules: “If I am in breach in any shape or form of any of the regulations then no problem whatsoever, I will pay that money back. My understanding is, I was completely abiding by the rules.”

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the TDs were meeting the Oireachtas Commission yesterday, but an Oireachtas spokesperson said no such meeting took place.

He said TDs are required to provide certification that the amount received was applied in respect of travelling to and from Leinster House.