O’Donovan calls for penalties for misuse of Leader’s Allowance

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Thursday) called for penalties to be enforced for the misuse of the Leader’s Allowance. Deputy O’Donovan welcomed the fact that Independent TDs and Senators who receive the Leader’s Allowance will be subject to scrutiny by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).

Deputy O’Donovan was speaking in the Dáil during the debate on the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013.

“The Leader’s Allowance is a long abused payment to Independent TDs and Senators, which has escaped scrutiny over the years. From 2001 to 2013, figures released in response to a Parliamentary Question show some €4,190,854.83 was paid to Dáil Members. Some €1,691,944.25 was paid to Senators, amounting to a total of €5,882,799.08. Not one cent was vouched for.

“The old system completely lacked transparency, and I have long been calling for its reform. I am very pleased that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, is taking action with this legislation. At the moment political parties receiving the Leader’s Allowance must be accountable to SIPO, the same rule does not apply to Independent TDs and Senators in receipt of the allowance, and I am glad that this anomaly has been addressed. In my view, Independents should be accountable to SIPO just in the same way as political parties.

“Furthermore, I believe penalties should apply to members of the Dáil and Seanad who are found to be misusing the Leader’s Allowance. This could function by way of a claw back, and would act as a significant incentive to ensure taxpayers’ money is being spent appropriately.

“I do not support calls to have allowances currently paid to political parties re-allocated to Deputies or Senators who have resigned or lost a Party whip. I believe that it is on polling day that the decision is made as to where the funding goes for the duration of the Dáil term, when people vote for candidates who are members of political parties or Independents. Any attempt to reallocate funds as people move in or out of parties would, I believe, be virtually impossible to implement and I welcome the decision of the Minister to rule it out.”

ENDS