Higgins to for go half of leader’s allowance

Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins has decided to give up half of his party’s leader’s allowance following the resignation of Clare Daly from the party.

Half of the €143,000 the party is entitled to under the allowance scheme will now be left with the exchequer — despite the fact Mr Higgins is entitled to keep the full amount.

Mr Higgins told the Irish Examiner that the decision to waive the legal entitlement to half the allowance had to be viewed alongside the massive funding still being drawn down by the main political parties.