813,000 reasons why independents don’t want to form a party – O’Donovan

“It’s no wonder that most of the current crop of Independent TDs and Senators have decided to pass on joining a new political party when they received over €813,000 in leader’s allowances in 2014”, says Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick.

“Independent leader’s allowances for sitting TDs came to over €563,000 in 2014, while in the Seanad independents claimed almost €250,000.

“The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader’s Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act and provides a boost to the incomes of those who are eligible.

“It’s hardly surprising that a number of independents have decided not to miss out on this allowance to join a leaderless, mish-mash of politicians who have no defined policy.”