Cowen should scrap all Flynn-style allowances

IT needs to be made crystal clear to Taoiseach Brian Cowen that it is totally unacceptable to consider the matter of the ‘independent’ TD allowance closed just because Beverley Flynn has agreed not to claim it personally but to allow it be paid to Fianna Fáil.

The Government has the nerve to ask people to make sacrifices to pay for the mistakes directly caused by the incompetence of Mr Cowen and his predecessor. If he and other politicians, of all parties, are to have any credibility, the rules under which they are paid all manner of allowances need to be rewritten. Mr Cowen needs to show he is capable of being a leader and take the decision to review and implement changes immediately, and not after he has farmed the issue out to another quango to issue a non-report.

No political party comes out of this disgusting saga with any credit as every one of them has members (and former members) claiming every single allowance available. Just because the rules allow them to do so does not make what they are doing acceptable.

There needs to be a sea-change in the mentality of politicians towards the way they are paid and that change needs to come from the top down.

Politicians have no right to ask, or expect, Irish people to make sacrifices until they get their own house in order and for once lead by example.

Desmond FitzGerald

Grosvenor Court

Canary Wharf

London