Oireachtas budget - An abuse of privilege

Yesterday’s decision by the Government to push through the Oireachtas budget of €112m for 2013 was entirely inappropriate, especially as every other institution or business in the country must review, if not cut, its expenditure.

It flies in the face of promises on transparency and making our parliament more relevant.

As if those criteria were not enough to condemn the parliamentary shakedown, the suggestion that each and every member of the Oireachtas costs around €500,000 a year adds to the frustration.

Democracy is not cheap but today’s challenges decree that this let-them-eat-cake parliamentary sleight of hand is unacceptable.