No plans to review TDs’ expenses

THE Government has no plans to review TDs’ expenses despite increasing criticism over the large amounts pocketed by many public representatives.

Yesterday it was revealed that the 166 TDs picked up more than €7.5m in expenses on top of their wage packet last year, with seven deputies earning more in expenses than their actual Oireachtas salary.

A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy said she was not aware of any plans to review the system under which ministers and Dáil deputies receive substantial and largely unvouched-for expenses.

Mr McCreevy’s spokeswoman confirmed that the Department of Finance was responsible for setting the guidelines and rates for TDs’ expenses, but indicated there would be no likely changes to the current system for reimbursing politicians for expenses incurred carrying out their work.

“No department officials can be contacted at the moment, but I am not aware of any plans in that regard,” she said.

Responding to repeated calls that the amount of expenses claimed by politicians be published quarterly, the spokeswoman said the department had no such lists available to it and that such a decision would be a matter for the offices of the Oireachtas.

According to the latest list, seven TDs got more than the basic Dáil salary of €74,000 in expenses last year, including former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan, in third place with €77,000, and current leader Enda Kenny in fourth position on €76,300. The largest claimant was Donegal Fine Gael TD Dinny McGinley, who received €91,300, while two Cork representatives, Jim O’Keeffe and Donal Moynihan, featured in the top 10.

Mr Moynihan, a Fianna Fáil deputy for Cork North West, was the second highest expenses earner with almost €78,000. Jim O’Keeffe is ranked 10th with expenses totalling almost €73,000.

Mr O’Keeffe last night expressed disappointment that the public and the media were portraying the list as an improper allocation of money and said he had been campaigning for the regular public release of expenses figures to ensure full openness. The figures were first made available through a Freedom of Information request in 1999, which was at first denied by the Oireachtas and strongly opposed by the largest political parties. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats all strenuously opposed the release of the information.

However, they were released following a ruling from the then information commissioner Kevin Murphy.

“I would favour them being issued without FOI requests every month, as well as what the money is spent on,” said Deputy O’Keeffe.

“Such expenses cover such things as travel to the Dáil, overnight expenses in Dublin, phone and mobiles, a secretary’s allowance, office maintenance, and in my case, trips to Europe as I am a member of the Parliamentary Association of the Council of Europe,” he added.