Recommendations on politicians’ allowances have scope for abuse

Last week, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published a Report on Public Sector Allowances, with recommendations on politicians’ allowances.

It advocates an ‘independent review mechanism’ to determine allowances, which should be ‘vouched or verified’ from Jan 1, 2013.

What is an ‘independent review mechanism’? If the Government appoints a review, the public may be distrustful. ‘Vouching and verification’ appears to mean one thing to the PAC committee and another to this professional accountant. The current, generous allowance for travel from home to the Dáil is unvouched, but the PAC recommendations will not change this. The report says ‘the travel and accommodation payment is subject to verification based on an attendance management system’, but clocking in does not verify that the travel allowances were spent in total, in part, or at all on travel.