Howlin pledges to reform leaders’ allowance system

PUBLIC Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says he will bring proposals to Cabinet in the coming months to amend the Party Leader’s Allowance system.

There have been calls for reform of the system after it emerged that 26 Independent TDs and senators between them receive €855,000 per year in unvouched allowances on top of their salaries.

Mr Howlin’s department said the minister had already committed to bringing “proposals” on the system to Cabinet and would do so “in early 2012”.