Politicians defend lavish expenses
TDs and senators came out in defence of their lavish expenses claims yesterday after Oireachtas members claimed €14 million in 2003.
TDs from rural constituencies were predominantly the largest claimants, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Fine Gael transport spokesman Denis Naughten claimed his expenses were only €39,500 rather than the €103,000 he received last year, making him the biggest recipient of Oireachtas expenses last year.
The €103,000 figure included backdated expenses for six years relating to the running of his constituency office in Roscommon, he said.
“As I am the only public representative in Roscommon who maintains a full-time constituency office, in place of a Dáil office, I am therefore the only individual who has such an expense added to the overall total quoted,” the Longford-Roscommon TD said.
Originally describing the figure reported in The Irish Times as “misleading” in a statement issued by Fine Gael, Mr Naughten withdrew this phrase in a later revised statement. He said that the figure provided by the Houses of the Oireachtas was an overall figure and if the detailed breakdown provided was examined it would be clear that these expenses accrued over an extended period.
“Finally, it is clear on any evaluation of expenses claimed by me in any public role I fulfil that my expenses have been consistently below the average.”
A TD’s basic salary is €80,000 a year, rising to €83,000 for TDs with between seven and 10 years’ service and to €85,600 after more than 10 years’ service. According to the figures, 11 TDs claimed more than €80,000 and 28 claimed more than €70,000.
Senators expenses also exceeded their salaries in some cases. FF Clare Senator Brendan Daly claimed €91,413; Seanad Cathaoirleach and FF Limerick West Senator Rory Kiely received €84,000.
Senators’ basic salary is €56,300, increasing to €58,100 with seven to 10 years’ service and rising to €59,900 after 10 years’ service.
