Their expenses are far greater than their contribution to the nation

AT a casual glance, it appeared to be the usual list from the revenue commissioners, naming and shaming the publicans, parish priests and assorted others who are conscientious objectors to paying their tax.

Required gloating though such lists are, this particular one was enough to make your average taxpayer go even more ballistic. It was a report of the exorbitant expenses claims by our revered members of the Dáil and Seanad.

Like most people I realised they were entitled to expenses, but never anything like the €14m we handed to them last year.