Expenses still claimed even through holidays

LEST there be any doubt, the fact the Oireachtas is not sitting for four weeks does not mean there will be any saving to the taxpayer by politicians claiming less expenses.

A look through the Oireachtas website for last year will show that there isn’t one TD or senator who didn’t claim the absolute maximum possible level of expenses and it reveals the remarkable fact that so many TDs from completely different parts of the country still manage to incur the exact same amount in expenses each month, regardless of whether or not the Oireachtas is sitting.

As for requiring receipts to be published to prove the expenses claimed are legitimate, well not even Santa himself could make the Taoiseach step up to the plate and stop the “no receipt required” expenses gravy train.

For fear of ruining people’s New Year completely, it’s best they don’t even think about the level of non-receipted expenses claimed by councillors.

Desmond FitzGerald

Canary Wharf

London

England