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Updated, 17.04
A NEW SYSTEM of TDs’ expenses quietly introduced last month may allow independent TDs to be paid two different allowances for the same spending, TheJournal.ie can reveal.
Regulations approved by public expenditure minister Brendan Howlin last month add to the list of items for which TDs and Senators are paid expenses by Leinster House authorities – who give politicians allowances for the cost of hiring PR agencies and secretarial support under the Public Representation Allowance.
But a separate Leaders’ Allowance – which is paid directly to independent politicians, and given to political parties for those who are members of one – already covers some of the same costs for which members are now given their expenses.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which directly manages the Leaders’ Allowance, lists spending on “the engagement of public relations consultants” and on “general administration” in the course of parliamentary duties as some of the items for which the allowance can be paid.
Because non-party politicians are treated as if they were individual parties in their own right, Independent TDs are given an annual Leaders’ Allowance of €41,152, while independent Senators receive €23,383.
The overlap in the new rules means that independent TDs get separate allowances from the Oireachtas and from the Department of Public Expenditure – which are intended to pay for precisely the same costs.
And because the State’s political spending watchdog does not require independents to submit receipts or any kind of statement for how they spend their Leaders’ Allowance, it’s now possible for TDs and Senators to use their Leinster House allowance to pay for some spending – and keep the allowance paid by the Department for themselves.
The amended rules introduced by Howlin also allow TDs and Senators to use their Public Representation Allowance for spending on IT and training services, in addition to the previous rules which covered costs like hiring and decorating a constituency office, mobile phone bills, and renting venues for meetings and clinics.
The new rules were signed by Howlin on the same day that the Oireachtas released expenses figures for December – which revealed that TDs had received over €6 million since the general election of last February.
Members of the Seanad – which is intended to be a part-time chamber – had been paid €1,305,821 in expenses since their own election was held in April.
On that same day, January 31, Howlin confirmed to the Dáil that the party leaders’ allowance paid to TDs or their parties is meant to cover costs like “general administration” and “the engagement of public relations consultants”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform pointed out that although the new rules expands the list of spending that the Public Representation Allowance can be used for, they do not raise the amount that members are actually given each year.
Ironically, the newly liberalised regime will not have an impact for the majority of TDs or Senators – as Leinster House records show all but a handful of members are already being paid the maximum allowances permitted under the appropriate laws.
TheJournal.ie understands that authorities in Leinster House intend to publish revised expenses figures in March, taking account of any expenses returned by TDs and Senators who didn’t use them.
The two different types of allowances come on top of a TDs’ basic salary of €92,672, and a Senator’s wage of €65,621.
Author’s note: This piece was updated at 5:04pm to more accurate reflect that expenses are paid in advance of being incurred, and not as ‘refunds’ thereafter, and also to further clarify that the two allowances are paid by different bodies.
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This government are basically from
the same stock as the previous governments. It will be a few decades until we see any real change.
Judging by the trends in polito-private interests the “change” will look something like Orwell’s 1984!
This is a joke . Brendan howlins position is no longer tenable . He s the guy in charge of all this shite , and hes passing it through like its coppers . I might as well send him up a bill for my expenses , who knows he might allow the public to pay for those aswell . Riding the gravy train like theres no tomorrow .
Thats because for alot of them, there will be no tomorrow. Cant wait till they try to get re-elected next time around.
Matthew, I REALLY hope you’re right!
The gravy train trundles onwards.
This is not good news. It is time for a fully vouched, item by item expenses system, published quarterly so tax payers can see exactly where the money goes.
Or better, we abolish expenses all together, does your employer pay for your clothes, dry cleaners, bus fare, holiday, etc? No so we shouldn’t pay our politicians for all that spending either.
They are taking the piss now……..
yes they are taking the piss ,and will keep taking it ,as long as we let them .
Aprils fool surely ??????????? Because I can’t believe that after all the shit that has gone on in this country , the TD s are still lining their pockets!!!! Where is this all going to end …. This government better realise that the Irish people at some stage are going to snap , and they will have blood on their hands…..
oh for Gods Sake
If the Irish protested like the. Greeks,….
New election now!!
Fu.k them. Fu.k the lot of them. I really am starting to wish some riot is going to happen and i just dont know if i will be able to behave myself and keep a clear head after everything the various governments has put us through the last few years.
Scene from the end of Animal Farn comes to mind. Even money they are gone by the end of the year.
So who’s with me down at the gates of the Dail in the morning protesting about this and everything else these self serving pocket liners are getting away with….any takers??
I am unable to be at the Gates with you not because i do not want to but physically unable to join in any protest for the moment but will be there with you and whoever is there But hopefully I will be able to be there in a few weeks all going well I keep in touch with “The Journal.ie”
Thanks Bernadette. However my question was rhetorical as well as attempting to be faceatious. We all find ourselves here everyday being very voicferous with our opinions and often personally insulting to each other. However when asked the question if you are willing to take to the streets in protest at the way this government (and the last shower) has shown nothing but contempt for Joe Soap there are no takers. They seem to forget that without the people there is no “state”. If the state is prepared to continue paying the disgusting wages and enourmous pensions (not mention unvouched expenses), we have none to blame except ourselves.
It would seem that the majority continue with the – I’m allright Jack- attitude. “Romantic Ireland is dead and gone” and unfortunately well and truly forgotten.
I forgot to add, given you can all talk the talk but as yet havent learned to walk, any chance you could sign the petiton demanding a referendum on the new Fiscal Treaty or as I like to call it the Noose Treaty.
Dear sweet………………it just gets better and better :-(
Join the Campaign Against the Household and Water Tax
Go to your local public meeting or ring
1890989800
Don’t panic ! !
Why is this not headlines on the mainline papers? These guys have been writing their own invoices for years and we do nothing. They even have Mazars as auditors to verify their clean. It’s a joke as the auditors are similar to the hand that signed off on Anglo ie you pay them enough and they will sign anything you want. When will we wake up.
Haven’t you heard? mainstream media doesn’t work any more – you need to use the internetz to your advantage.
Ivor Callely would LOVE this system.
This has got to be a wind up, this government are exactly the same as the Previous Government, Helping themselves to fat cat bonuses, do they realise that are country is in a right mess as it is? When the likes of Brendan howling and other FG TDS and LB TDS are robbing the people blind with household tax charges and septic tanks replacements and charges and the amount of hugs bonus of money they are splashing out on themselves, while people are out there struggling daily to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table to provide on a low wage pay or social welfare payments, and the neck of these people cut cut cut on everything bar themselves in fiscal austerity, it is beyond a joke now with this fucking wankers, and greedy mad narrowing politician who constanlly take every thing from the all vulnerable people here in Ireland, they should be strung up against the wall and beaten to a poll, it makes me boil that these fuckers are using people’s tax paying money on their PR and Assitance, what a joke this government is, we should all get out and loudly voice our voices, we should not take any more from this government like weve had from the previous, I am boiled up now and ready for action? Rita Cahill
Flash mob Enda’s house or Bertie’s bedsit.
WOW, So that was the exclusive you promised on twitter. Absolute disgrace, this is not acceptable in any democracy especially one proclaiming to be a republic!
Shur isn’t it grand for them. They might as well get as much as they can while they have the chance, and fcuk the rest of us. *sarcasm*
Don’t worry – everything will be ok soon. They’ll just arrest a banker or developer today to help us forget this.
We dont need another civil war just some civil disobedience,people in their own towns and villages should protest outside their TD ‘s home/dwelling until they are forced to accept a big cut in pay AND expences!!!!! Their was more leadership on the titanic ,wonder how that ended up!!!!!!!!
Business as usual in Gombeen Ireland then……….
Dublin will be like Athens shortly I reckon civil war is what’s needed and crimes of thieving of this nature should be a hanging offense . People are not going to take much more of this abuse
The trouble is, will the “EU” let any of the PIIGs fail?
And by that I don’t mean will they hand us some cash.
War is never needed.
Looking forward to the revised list coming out in march, I’d say it will be a lonely list.
All animals are equal, except some animals are more equal than others
scum of the earth
Civil unrest is what’s needed … All they will do is pat us on the head and tell the little guy to go away like a good man – the people of this country are being consistently ignored ( except of course when it comes to presenting us with the bill for the mistakes made when they (politicians) were asleep at the wheel!)
dead right……
Some comments here (and, by extension, their commentators) are really worrying me. Do you people actively encouraging riots understand what the hell you advocate and the hell on earth that such an action creates, even in the short term? Who wins a riot? The injured? The looted? “Democracy”? Tourism? Gardaí? The first person killed?
Have you enough righteous indignation on your side, a steely determination to save the country from the government we elected, and feel you need to do something when encouraging others to riot on your behalf hasn’t worked?
I see. Well, after you gut the centre of our towns and cities refresh yourself with a nice latté at a petrol station on the way home, watch it on RTÉ and then log in to bitch about who should pay for the clean up.
Your right a riot is not the answer but we need to protest let them know it’s not acceptable
Well, we need some way to be heard on a unified field. Letter writing, I doubt will do, strikes and marches hurt us financially and can not be long lasting, civil disobedience on a national scale (not looting and burning cars) seems to be a good way, like on the household charges but it’s near impossible to get the Irish unified on anything, and I don’t know what will change that. We are too divided and in different positions, either financially or socially to come together without tarring those that make a stand or try be heard as lefty loons and tree hugger’s or the opposite right wing greedy self serving lot and throw in the lot that follow every proposal without question.
I don’t wish to see us come anywhere close to the situation Greece is in and only then for people to take to the streets.
What positive unified effective means do we have today?
Metassus I agree with you. Though for a change in here I’m actually going to agree with the general consensus that having these extra expenses is wrong and they should be withdrawn. I’ll be contacting my local TD’s about it.
If someone can cover the cost of a breakfast roll with that latte, I might be able to locate the righteous indignation required to rise up against the man. Of course, I do not wish to break anything, but I could make some eye catching campaign posters that we the people could unite behind. I will need crayons, card board and some sticks.
destroying your own infrastructure is never a good idea.
No need anyway, you can just sit back and watch the government dismantle it piece by piece.
job done!
Disgusting.
Sick dirty thieving tramps
Typical that the new expenses regime was sneaked in. Thank you guys for letting us ordinary plebs know this. Well done the Journal.
All TDs are in public office, so therefore ALL expenses should be transparent and made public.
It sickens one to know that whilst we take the hit for all the financial problems facing this country, the TDs have continued to ensure that they retain, bar the one, all expenses on top of their exorbitant salaries, and pensions, and now have the brass neck to be able to claim even more!!
What is going on in the minds of decision makers when the country is fighting for survival??????
they’re alright jack.
double bubble for the muppets as the dail gravy train rolls on by choo chooo!
One good way to protest is to join the campaign against the household charge, don’t register don’t pay and then see how the government cope. People keep saying enough is enough well this is OUR chance to do something about it.
Agreed, seeing as they don’t listen to us maybe they will see and hear us in the pages of their accounts and the lack of funds they are receiving to pay for their luxurious lifestyles and outrageous expenses while sending the rest off to foreign bank accounts.
Different drum, same beat.
Is there a mechanism available to the common folk whereby they can contribute more by way of financial assistance to our TD’s?
I myself would like in some small way to give those tireless soldiers of democracy more. It must be clear to all of us by now that we as a nation simply have not done enough to insulate our public representatives from the barbs of austerity. It is not good enough, we can do better.
How can we sit back and remain aloof to the discomfort experienced by those who unselfishly awake from their slumber, only to be faced with putting into place a plan of action that serves to systematically undermine the financial stability of every living and breathing organism in this, what was, our fair republic.
We must recognise the hardship we inflict upon those we award with such a task. The lonely space created by by the vacuum of our dis-content can only be assuaged by the giving of more.
More money, more tax breaks, more pension contributions, larger lump sums, larger lines of credit at the Dail Bar, underfloor heating, MacDonalds vouchers, fuel cards for the extended family, casino reward cards with pre-existing lines of credit, Kevlar seat covers, tickets to the opening of just about everything, free cheese, scuba diving equipment, shark diving cage, fishing rods and reels, cruise liners,the new Apple IPAD 3, monogrammed fresh fruit and vegetables delivered by bikini clad supermodels driving new model Audi A5 convertibles.
Yes, the list is long, I know, but please remember that we as a nation have a long standing and time honoured commitment to those amongst us who struggle daily with the trappings of power and political influence. It is imperative that we continue to insulate our venerable leaders from the hardships imposed by the very measures they design and implement to save us from ourselves. We cannot allow them to experience our discomfort. They must never sample the bitter taste of Macaroni & cheese on Tuesdays, the humiliation of mystery meat on Fridays. We the people simply have too much, and its time we recognised that we can live on less, in an effort to give them more.
We Irish are traditionalists, our heritage exists by virtue of our ability to remain the gift that keeps on giving. Let us not rage against the machine, let us instead reconcile ourselves to the fact that we are little more than sheep, and all sheep, by virtue of being sheep, must have shepherds.
Bravo!
I’m right there with you. Have you bank account number so I can donate my SW Invalidity pension to them for the next couple of weeks.
after this……..all the PR AGENCIES in the world won’t help ‘em change my mind. Where was the “opposition” when this was happening? ……….on the same gravy train!
Out with the lot of them now!! with no chance at ever stepping foot in Govt. positions again, along with their advisers and cohorts. Bleeding parasites
Rather than riot and give them an excuse to label us all. How about a campaign of civil disobedience? This government are exactly the same as the last. Rioting is not the answer. Instead lets attract attention, where it would be difficult to label us. Everyone gather in numbers in places (quietly) to cause the most disruption. Camp outside td’s offices and not say a word, just stay there. Hound and annoy them, but without the violence. Just disobey
This would never have happened during the recession and austerity years! Luckily they’re behind us.
And yet we still do nothing.
we live in the land of tut tut all mouth and no action. How much will we take before taking to the streets.
loads more.
We all need to stand up and physically fight this government into the ditches that they belong in!!
Once again an incredible display of arrogance and entitlement from the political elite. Fantastic news for the small business owner and regular taxpayer. Keep milking the public purse, first rule of politics. If these representatives had a conscience, they should be handing back their unvouched allowances. Does anyone believe the average small business owner could get away with spending 40k in a year from company funds without any receipts? One law for politicians, another entirely for the citizens who pay their wages.
The arrogance of these people. They appear to have no regard for the people and how we are hurt by their selfishness. Will any of the independents criticise this move? Let’s wait and see butdon’t hold your breath.
The President of Turkmenistan, Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has been re-elected for another term with a landslide majority. Substitute Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov for Enda Kenny and you begin to see the picture. Once these guys get into power it all abot ME ME ME
Seems to me the only growth industry is the printing industry,the printing of expenses sheets
i’m too angry to say what i think about this. i was i was greek, at least i could vent my frustration
lol, funny comment that.
i smell the gravy train again
Are they taking people for fools.. They tell you there is no money yet it seems to be plentiful when it concerns their pensions and expences. Someone has to shout STOP.
Are they taking people for fools.. They tell you there is no money yet it seems to be plentiful when it concerns their pensions and experiences. Someone has to shout STOP.
Metassus dam glad to hear your not a goverment stooge so i apologise , the people of this country have been suppressed enough and i like it when my fellow country men and women show a little fighting spirit its gives me hope ,cause i aint going to get it from the cretins that are being paid to give me hope
Metussus is this your idea of democracy we elect people to run our country and they run it into the ground ,nobody is accountable for any wrong doings in this country no investigation of any real meaning into what on in our banking system ,the mechanism to sort out disputes in our courts broken ,as for the rest of the professionals in the country they are lying through their teeth and lets not talk about our media lets kkep it under the carpet and you want us to roll over and live on our knees for the rest of our lives ,i say to you mr goverment stooge go f—- your self
Dermis, your anger is palpable, but you are playing the man, not the ball. Our government was indeed elected on one premise and now acts on another. In that we agree.
It might be helpful to you if you read what I wrote in my comment, rather than assume who or what I am.
Apols, Dermot. Damn phone autocorrect caused me to mistype your name. No offence intended.
@ Ann Reddin ink shared and signed thanks
I spent my evening fighting to keep our local small schools open as they are under threat from recently suggested Government cuts to save money that is apparently “just not there” innocent children being punished for something they know nothin about for the sake of saving the government a few euro – then i come home to see what the money is being spent on instead – this boils my blood, absolutely disgusted!!!!
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