THE DÁIL’S technical group has described Government criticism of the €41,000 “leaders’ allowance” paid to Independent TDs as “phoney politics”.
One of the leading members of the group comprising Independents and deputies from smaller parties has challenged criticism by the Government deputy chief whip, Emmet Stagg.
Finian McGrath said the Labour TD’s claim that the funds would allow Independent TDs to build up a war chest of €200,000 for the next election was misleading.
He pointed to research undertaken by Independent TD for Kildare North Catherine Murphy which showed that in larger parties the average sum paid per TD through the leaders’ allowance was much greater than the sums received by Independents.
The two larger Opposition parties, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, receive average annual allowances of €121,683 and €119,795 respectively for each TD in addition to their salaries and personal allowances.
Fine Gael receives an average of €58,735, while Labour receives an average of €63,317.
By comparison, the figures for Independents are much smaller – €48,7644 for members of the technical group and €41,152 for the three Independent TDs who are not aligned to any group.
“I have no problem cutting allowances provided the major political parties do it too,” said Mr McGrath. “Deputy Stagg has been engaging in phoney politics.”
Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said last night that the Electoral Bill would include provisions to reform the leaders’ allowance for Independent TDs.
He said that there would be no reduction in the sum but that Independents would be required to account for all spending of the allowance. This was in line with the strict requirements placed on parties for use of the leaders’ allowance.
Mr Kehoe added that the use of the allowance would be scrutinised by the Standards in Public Office Commission in the same way as for political parties.
“Fine Gael gets a leader’s allowance but every cent of it has to be accounted for. That should apply to everybody in the Dáil,” said Mr Kehoe.
