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THE AMOUNT OF money politicians owe to the bars in Leinster House has fallen dramatically in recent months owing to a more proactive pursuit of outstanding bills by Oireachtas authorities.
At the end of last month a total of €11,715 was owed to the bar facilities in the Houses of the Oireachtas, a sharp fall from the €72,000 that was owed at the end of 2012 – the last available figures.
An Oireachtas spokesperson said that invoices are now generally being settled within one month of the date of purchase owing to a more proactive approach by those responsible for chasing outstanding invoices.
“We are proactive in following up on any unpaid invoices and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is also interested in ensuring that accounts are settled promptly,” a spokesperson said.
In July, it was reported that Oireachtas authorities would employ private debt collectors to chase TDs’ and Senators’ for outstanding bar bills.
There have also been suggestions that members’ could have the amounts they owe deducted from their salary after it emerged that tens of thousands of euro in unpaid bar tabs had been run up over recent years.
However, no debt collection agency has been employed by authorities in Leinster House with a source saying it was never considered as a serious proposal.
There has also been no attempt to deduct outstanding amounts from the pay of Oireachtas members.
The two Dáil bars – one exclusively for TDs and Senators and one for staff and visitors – have come under renewed scrutiny in recent times after a number of controversial late-night sittings and claims that some deputies have been drunk while at work.
Last year a bar bill of nearly €7,000 was run-up during a late-night sitting to pass the abortion legislation – an evening which became know as ‘lapgate’ after Fine Gael TD Tom Barry pulled party colleague Áine Collins onto his lap prior to a vote.
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Why not deduct the tabs from their salary?? They are doing it to us
Yup, all they’d have to do is provide their PPS number. I’m sure that wouldn’t be an issue.
A tactic often used by governments when introducing new charges or taxes is to tell us how the same charges are already the norm in a selection of other countries. The intention being to highlight the fact that we are ‘behind’ these other countries.
I’d like to know now, how many other countries have a pub in their parliament?
Bad news for you there, a lot of parliaments have bars. There are several in Westminster, and I saw one on the roof level of the Reichstag building on a trip to Berlin.
But I somehow doubt you’ll be allowed run up a tab, or create a lapgate, anywhere else.
There should be no “tabs” in the Dail bar and those with Tabs should be charged interest at the same rate the revenue demands from the people living in this country.
There should be no pub in the Dáil, never mind ‘tabs’.
In fairness, they’re all on high salaries so it’s safe for the bar to give credit on the basis that “They’re good for it”.
These piss heads are so out of touch with ordinary joe soap…
And the ‘ordinary Joe soap’ won’t don’t a thing about it.
@ Jason: Hear, hear.
What a bunch of absolute pigs.
Amen
Ale sucking degenerate pigs
“Attention fellow TD’s”
“An important piece of legislation has to be passed”
“Lets have a €7,000 allnighter p1ss up”
“Yehaw”
Writing off people’s debts will certainly help that.
Bunch of round dodgers
7k bill during a night of discussion and related work…..so….drunk at work :They get a tab…. We get fired….yeap that’s fair…
Why don’t they just name those that didn’t pay their bill?
Should be drug and alcohol testing before these bofoons make huge decisions affecting the whole country.
Why are they allowed drink at work? Anybody else pissed at work gets fired.
Pity they don’t stay in the bar all day. Results would be better without them and at least they would have an excuse for the crap answers the give in the dail
Fall in tabs,is that a vote after
‘LAPGATE’!
Who cares?
Lots of people care. How come they aren’t as enthusiastic about fines and interest as they are if one of us plebs owes a bit of tax?
Tab
They get it all back in expenses then!
I wonder will claims for the months the Dail wasn’t sitting be the same as the months it does?
That reminds me, I must drop in to Lidl next time I’m passing and pay for that two-litre bottle of Woodgate Cider from last month.
That picture deserves an award.
#politicalreform
Tax almost rhymes with fax, maybe they could fax tax back whilst sitting in the jacks.?! Hmmm possible resolution in the making..!
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