Minister is 'deciding authority' on expenses

COMMISSION STATEMENT:THE HOUSES of the Oireachtas Commission has said the Minister for Finance is "the statutory deciding authority" in regard to the system of Oireachtas members' allowances.

The commission issued a statement yesterday following the resignation recently of Tom O’Higgins, the chairman of the Oireachtas Audit Committee, which reports to the commission.

Mr O’Higgins, the auditor charged with overseeing the regime of expenses and allowances for TDs and Senators, had complained in a resignation letter that the commission had ignored his proposals for reform and left him with no option but to resign.

In its statement released yesterday, the commission said it was taking a leading and reforming role in seeking greater transparency and accountability in the allowances system.

“The Minister for Finance is the statutory deciding authority in regard to the system of Oireachtas members’ allowances. The only role taken by the Oireachtas commission is one of making recommendations to the Minister,” the statement said.

The statement from the Oireachtas commission said Mr O’Higgins was consulted and at all times kept abreast of developments in relation to any proposed changes to the administration of the payment of allowances and expenses to members.

“Under his chairmanship, a system of allowances and expenses which involve both vouched and unvouched payments was previously approved,” the statement said. It also said that significant cuts recommended by the commission and implemented by the Minister had already been made to the current scheme of allowances. These included cuts of 25 per cent on mileage and 10 per cent on other allowances.