Politicians to cash in on expenses overhaul

A PROPOSAL to scrap the current €14 million expenses regime for TDs and senators in favour of a new vouched-only system will result in far higher expense claims, it emerged yesterday.

At present Oireachtas members claim for expenses under a complicated system based on permissible allowances which does not always require receipts to be submitted.

Under that system, TDs and senators last year claimed a total of €8,512,000 in non-travel-related allowances and expenses. Domestic and foreign travel added another €5,573,000 to the bill.

However, launching the first annual report of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission yesterday, commission member Senator Joe O'Toole said expenses bills would rise significantly if politicians began receipting everything.

"At the end of the day, it's not going to be cheaper," he said adding that other countries, such as Britain, had seen significant jumps in expenditure on expenses when vouched-only systems were introduced.

Yesterday's report, the first since the commission was given the role of running the Oireachtas, revealed that each of last year's 2,344 hours of Oireachtas activity cost the tax payer €35,000 - making a total of €83m.

That figure is made up of:

€29m on administration and services.

€9m for the pay and pensions of member's staff.

€27.5m to pensions and pay for MEPs.

With a review of TDs' expenses and allowances already underway, Senator O'Toole said any changes would be made to satisfy the need for transparency and accountability rather than any mistrust of Oireachtas members. "We see ourselves as a watchdog rather than a bloodhound," he said.

Ceann Comhairle and Commission member Rory O'Hanlon said evidence of politicians abusing the expenses regime was rare.

"Occasionally you get evidence that there may be. But in general there isn't any evidence to substantiate that."

Nevertheless, he said it was "the position of the commission that all-vouched expenses should be introduced as soon as possible".

However, since the change would require new legislation to be drafted by the Department of Finance, it is not expected to be introduced within the next two years.

The commission's report revealed that Dáil sittings have increased by 10% since 2000 to a total of 840 hours last year.