MEPs’ expenses and the sin of omission

I REFER to the article entitled ‘Call for reform after row over MEPs’ expenses’ (Irish Examiner, April 26).

The article is factually incorrect in one respect and misleading by omission in another.

It states that a proposed common statute for MEPs was voted down by them last month. This is incorrect. As it was required to do by Article 190(5) of the Nice Treaty, the European Parliament prepared a draft common statute for all MEPs and presented it to the Council of Ministers for a final decision last December.

On January 28, minister of state Dick Roche, speaking for the Irish Presidency of the EU, told parliament that the council had failed to approve the proposed common statute. So, in effect, the council voted it down.

The article fails to explain that MEPs detained by parliamentary business in Strasbourg on Thursday beyond the time of the last flight home are clearly and unambiguously entitled, under parliament’s rules, to receive the daily attendance allowance for Friday provided they sign the register on Friday.

Jim O’Brien,

European Union House,

43, Molesworth Street,

Dublin 2.