Howlin accuses Daly of 'brass neck' after expenses question

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin today accused Socialist TD Clare Daly of having a "brass neck" after she questioned him about allowances and expenses in the Dáil.

Clare Daly has agreed that she used her travel allowance to tour the country to campaign against the household charge, even though it appears she is only allowed to claim the allowance for travel within her constituency in Dublin.

Minister Howlin confirmed he was reviewing all allowances, including perks and expenses for TDs and he said he was "astounded" that the Dublin North TD quizzed him on the matter in the Dáil.

He said it showed "brass neck to come in here in the teeth of a storm, when (Ms Daly) is claiming expenses hand over fist…It's almost like accusing the police for the crime...It beggars belief."

On the wider issue of TDs' allowances, he said: "Even where allowances are there, they don't have to be claimed by people. Whether it's toner or whether it's anything else, you don't have to ratchet up the maximum."