TDs payments now available to view online

CLARE TDs have welcomed the decision to publish details of payments made to Oireachtas members under the single parliamentary allowance.
Beginning on Tuesday, all amounts paid to members were published on the Oireachtas website on a retrospective monthly basis.
The figures for March and April are now on the website and show that both Joe Carey and Pat Breen received €5045.84 each month while Timmy Dooley received €4982.84 in both months. Minister Tony Killeen got €1,666.67 each month.
The TDs are entitled to different travel and accommodation payments depending on the distance of their home to the Dáil. Cabinet Ministers can claim expenses from their respective departments rather than from the Oireachtas.
Deputy Dooley said he was pleased that the expenses will be online. “Anything that helps public confidence and that will help people have confidence in politicians locally or nationally has to be welcomed. For too long people believed there was a gravy train. Expenses seemed high and people didn’t see where they were going.”
He added that certain media outlets reported the amount of expenses accrued over a couple of years to make the figures seem as dramatic as possible.
The move was also welcomed by Deputy Pat Breen. “All expenses that we received are verified and we don’t get anything we’re not entitled to. I’ve published my 2009 expenses on my own website and I also intend to put my monthly figures on my website.”
He said that there have been reforms to how TDs are paid expenses and he said that expenses being paid to Ministers should also be made easily accessible to the public.
Deputy Breen said that members of the Oireachtas should be very conscious of where their expenses come from. “It’s taxpayers money and it has to be spent properly.”
Deputy Joe Carey also welcomed the publication of expenses. “Without a doubt it’s a good idea. For far too long there was an air of mystery about it and now things are in the open which is for the best.”
In January of this year The Clare Champion reported that between them Deputies Breen and Killeen had claimed expenses totalling €905,694 between May 2002 and September 2009.
Ceann Comharile Seamus Kirk said the move to publish expenses was another important step for the Houses of the Oireachtas.
“It provides the public with detailed, up to date information on the level of allowances paid to their elected representatives on a monthly basis.
“I think it is acknowledged that there are certain costs that members of the Oireachtas incur in relation to their travel and accommodation when attending the Oireachtas and in serving the needs of their constituents.
“I believe that regularly disclosing these costs will result in a greater level of accountability and will bring more public confidence to the system. Today’s initiative is part of the ongoing commitment by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to provide open, transparent and accountable parliament on behalf of the people who elect it.”