Coalition parties pocket €200k for TDs who lost the whip

The Labour Party has taken in almost €100,000 in Dáil allowances in respect of the five TDs who have lost the party whip and moved to the opposition benches.

Brendan Howlin, minister for public expenditure and reform, has ruled out changing the anomaly which allows parties to claim the same rate of leaders’ allowance — awarded per TD — after their numbers are reduced.

This also means Fine Gael will be entitled to keep almost €100,000 a year paid on behalf of five TDs who were expelled over their opposition to the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.