Some Irish MEPs voted against a big pay increase yesterday when members of the European Parliament voted by 314 to 84 in favour of a proposed new salary and expenses package. This would increase Irish MEPs' salaries by £16,500 a year, but also curb some extravagant air travel expense entitlements.
The controversial deal must yet, however, be approved unanimously by EU leaders at next week's Vienna summit, a prospect that is viewed as unlikely. Parliament also agreed an amendment which will rule out the dual mandate. If approved it will force Mr John Hume and the Rev Ian Paisley, if re-elected, to choose whether they intend to sit in the Commons or Strasbourg.
Irish MEPs, currently on £38,000 a year, the same as TDs, would see their salaries rise to £54,500, but expenses for flights, traditionally paid at a high (first class) fixed rate, irrespective of real cost, would be reimbursed only at actual cost.
The proposal submitted to the Parliament yesterday by the German Socialist MEP, Mr Willi Rothley, is to move MEPs off widely varying national rates to a common salary based on an average of the current rates. At present Italian MEPs earn as much as £92,500 a year while Spaniards get as little as £27,000 and the Swedes £31,000.
Irish MEPs were divided in their approaches to the report with Mr John Cushnahan (FG, Munster) voting against the final report in its entirety because of his opposition to what he regarded as an excessive salary increase.
Party colleague Ms Mary Banotti (FG, Dublin) joined Greens Ms Patricia McKenna (Dublin) and Ms Nuala Ahern (Leinster) in unsuccessfully backing an amendment against the pay increase but eventually supporting the final package in the belief it was important to send out a signal that MEPs were willing to support reform. Ms McKenna said she had also opposed the provision for MEPs to pay tax at a far lower EU common rate.
Mr Pat Cox (Ind, Munster), Mr Alan Gillis (FG, Leinster) and Mr Joe McCartan (FG, Connacht-Ulster) supported the full package from the start as did Ms Bernie Malone (Labour, Dublin) who argued that all MEPs should get the same salary, but opposed paying EU taxes.
Mr Cox, the leader of the Liberal Group, said that in no other European institution was there salary discrimination based on nationality. Ms Malone said it was important that they move to a transparent system of expenses.
Fianna Fail MEPs opposed the full report. Mr Pat "the Cope" Gallagher said it was badly thought-out and had merely been "cobbled together in haste" to be available when the EU leaders meet for their summit at Vienna.
While the proposed salary was acceptable, transitional arrangements would lead to discrimination between members, he said, and the party was opposed to member-states being allowed to top up the agreed salary figure.
