Control on €41k Dáil perk ‘not onerous’

Stricter controls planned for the €41,000 allowance paid to independent TDs are not “cumbersome” or “onerous”, according to Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure and reform minister.

He has prepared draft legislation to overhaul the party leader’s allowance, which will be brought before the Cabinet in the autumn.

It follows a consultation on the payment by his department, initiated on a recommendation of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee.

The heads of the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Amendment Bill introduces a 10% cut to the allowance — worth €41,152 to TDs and €23,382 to senators — in line with a promise in last December’s budget.

It will also enhance transparency of the payment, with a requirement to supply a statement of expenditure and auditor’s report to prove it is being used properly.

Under the draft laws, the Standards in Public Office Commission will be given powers to request records in support of these documents.

SIPO will also be allowed issue guidelines and provide legally binding advice in relation to the allowance, which will be agreed with Mr Howlin before being put into action.

“As the political parties are already required to comply with increased reporting obligations under the Electoral Acts, I am of the view that these additional provisions should not prove unduly cumbersome,” said Mr Howlin.

The allowance has been payable to independent deputies since 1996 and independent senators since 2001, but has been exempt from audit provisions that exist for party leaders who draw down the same allowance. “This has been the subject of frequent criticism,” Mr Howlin said.

The allowance was introduced to enable independents “carry out their parliamentary activities, such as research, in light of the fact that they did not enjoy the same supports which are available to members of the Oireachtas who belong to parties”, he said. “This reasoning continues to be valid.”

The name of the payment has been changed from party leader’s allowance to parliamentary activities allowance to “reflect the purpose” of the payment and the fact it is paid to leaders as well as independents.

“I am of the view that the application of the new auditing and reporting provisions to independent TDs and senators is not unique or onerous,” Mr Howlin said.

“Many recipients of grant-in-aid from State bodies are required to account for amounts substantially less than the allowance paid to independent members.”

The legislation will also abolish the severance payments made to outgoing government ministers, as reported in the Irish Examiner on Saturday.

The payments have cost the State €1.6m since the 2011 collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition.