Flynn’s TD expenses - Questions over system

Beverly Flynn’s decision to give up the €41,000 payment she has been receiving, having been elected as an independent to the current Dáil, is to be welcomed, but questions must be asked about her insistence over the weekend that she would continue to take the money.

Of course, she was legally entitled to it, but there are serious questions about the system that afforded her this legal entitlement.

Independent deputies are accepting similar payments, but she has since rejoined Fianna Fáil. She felt she was being singled out, whereas Liam Twomey, the Fine Gael deputy, was also receiving these payments under relatively similar circumstances. The issue of taking the money is the same in both instances, even if Mr Twomey did offer the money to his party. This is taxpayers’ money and the issue reflects no credit on either party. It is alarming that Ms Flynn was not prepared to recognise that for herself, before engaging in her rash defence of the indefensible. In the current economic climate her stance was morally reprehensible. The Government should not only review this legislation, but also the broader area of unvouched expenses.

Most people in this country who drive to work every day are not entitled to claim this as an expense, or even write it off against their income tax, but members of the Oireachtas are paid travelling expenses to Leinster House that frequently bear little relationship to the cost of their travel. This amounts to a tax-free supplement to their income.

Such unvouched expenses are patently wrong and it is time the politicians afforded proper leadership.