Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Whether it worked or not, it was a falsehood. We appreciate that we are fortunate, honoured and privileged to be in this House. By virtue of a salary of €65,000 we are well paid with the entitlement to claim €12,000 per annum in expenses. That should be payable under fair and achievable categories. Deputies have a much better salary, entitled to two staff and funded constituency offices compared to us. It is unfair that Senators should only have five allowable categories under which they claim expenses while Deputies have 15. Allowable expenses under the parliamentary allowance include general administration, technical or specialist advice, research and training, policy formulation, the purchase of support services, payment to another person arising from activities in a parliamentary party and such other matters as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Minister. I hope the Minister will accept my view.

At a time when the country is still a long way from being as well off as we would wish it to be, we cannot look for extra moneys or expenses. My amendments are simply asking that the moneys we are entitled to claim can be used most effectively for political purposes. For public representatives to employ people to do opinion polls or other political activity is good for the body politic. The Minister earlier claimed his party’s first cousin, the British Labour Party, brought in the idea of paying politicians so politics would not be a wealthy person’s club. We must aspire to ensure that every politician uses his or her talents and supports for the country’s best. These moneys should be used for good political purposes. We are all on a vouched system with no one receiving improper moneys. However, we need to be realistic about the categories. Why can they not be extended to all Oireachtas Members?

Now that the leaders' allowance for independent Deputies and Senators is becoming vouched, those independent Deputies and Senators will be operating on a different stream from us in this House because they are legally entitled to have an office and staff, and we are not.

The Minister is thinking about this on an ongoing basis. I appeal to him to re-engage with our political leaders in this House. We are all coming from a starting position of respect for the fortunate position we are in, acknowledging the fact that our salary is good and that until times get much better our salaries and allowances cannot and should not increase. However, the payment of that allowance should be under a fair system of categories and there should not be this dramatically disadvantaged position for a Senator versus a Deputy. Why can a Deputy claim expenses under 15 different, admittedly vouchable, categories while a Senator has only five such categories? Why can my colleague in the Dáil use his or her money from the taxpayer to purchase an iPad and other computer equipment while I cannot? I find that very difficult to understand. It is among the anomalies that must be reflected upon.