TDs and senators owe Dáil bar €1,800

HIGHLY-PAID TDs and senators have racked up almost €2,000 in unpaid Dáil bar costs since the start of this year – with €1,378 of the debt owed by just one Oireachtas member.

The Irish Examiner has learned that despite the country’s perilous financial situation, public representatives on lucrative salaries, pensions, allowances and expenses are continuing to socialise at the taxpayers’ expense.

As former ministers “gift” back lucrative pensions, Freedom of Information Act figures show that between January 1 and March 31 this year, Dáil bar staff were told TDs and senators could not pay in cash for €1,837-worth of drinks.