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”.

The department did not say, however, what changes might be in the pipeline.

The allowance is a form of State funding for political parties, which they can use for parliamentary activities such as administration, research and entertainment.

The parties must provide an annual statement on how the money is spent to the State’s ethics watchdog, the Standards in Public Office Commission.

But Independent TDs and senators also qualify for the allowance to compensate them for the lack of a party structure. And, unlike political parties, they do not have to account for the money.

Independent TDs receive an allowance of €41,152 which is unvouched, meaning they do not have to furnish the commission with an expenditure statement. The allowance is on top of their €92,672 salary.

Independent senators receive an allowance of €23,383, also unvouched. This is on top of their €65,621 salary.

Independent TD Finian McGrath and Independent senator Martin McAleese have both expressed agreement with calls for reform on the issue and have both said they believe that all expenses should be vouched.