Senators paid €158,000 in expenses despite no sittings

SENATORS WERE paid more than €158,000 in expenses for the month of February, during which the Seanad did not sit.

One Senator who did not receive an expenses payment for February was former Fianna Fáil Senator Ivor Callely, while 57 other members of the Upper House shared a total of €158,677.06 in vouched and unvouched allowances.

The Dáil sat for one day in February, February 1st, when then taoiseach Brian Cowen announced the Dáil was being dissolved and would meet again on March 9th.

Expenses claimed by TDs for February range from €80.36 for Dublin-based deputies such as Bertie Ahern of Fianna Fáil to €189.14 for PJ Sheehan of Fine Gael, who was based in Cork South-West.

All TDs claimed less than €200, with the exception of then Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk, who was paid €2,612.50. Asked why his expenses were out of line with others, Mr Kirk said it was because the Ceann Comhairle continued in office until the new Dáil resumed.

The Parliamentary Standard Allowance (PSA), which came into effect on March 1st of last year, has two strands: the Travel and Accommodation Allowance (TAA) and the Public Representation Allowance (PRA).

Members can opt for the PRA to be vouched or unvouched. For TDs, the minimum certified amount for unvouched expenditure is €15,000 and the fully-vouched maximum amount subject to audit is €25,700. There are lower rates for Ministers and Senators.

The allowance can cover office rent, rates, utilities, insurance, improvements and cleaning. It can also cover telephone calls, computer costs including “web hosting”, the distribution of leaflets, advertising and conference attendance.

The TAA covers the costs of travel to and from Leinster House, accommodation where applicable and, for TDs only, constituency travel.

The annual amounts range from €12,000 per annum for Dublin-based deputies to €37,850 per annum for those living 360km or more from Leinster House. Senators are paid a reduced amount.

A spokesman for the Oireachtas explained that the Seanad was not dissolved until the eve of the elections to the Upper House. He said it could reconvene at any time between now and the upcoming Seanad election and could sit as required to deal with legislation or urgent business.

Senators also continue to carry out their duties as public representatives during this period, he added.

“Oireachtas members must attend Leinster House for a minimum of 120 days per year in order to receive full payment of their travel and accommodation allowance,” he added.