Holding TDs to account

There has been much debate over the revelation that Mr Joe Higgins TD and his socialist colleagues used a constituency allowance to campaign against the household charge.

We now learn that Minister Brian Hayes also used this allowance in the same manner when he was the Fine Gael party spokesperson on Education.

It was refreshing to hear Minister Simon Coveney making the point that TDs who believe provision should be made for travelling to political engagements outside their constituency should raise that issue separately. I agree.

Both Mr Hayes and Mr Higgins, it could be argued, when using this allowance to fund the position of a particular party (Mr Hayes as education spokesman for FG) or position in a national campaign (Mr Higgins and the anti-household charge), abused an allowance designed to assist our public representatives in serving members of their constituency.

It is up to all members of the Oireachtas to ensure that any TD found to have been in breach of any rule be held to account.

Róisín Lawless

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