TDs and Senators run up refreshments tab of €73,000

TDS AND Senators have racked up tabs totalling €73,000 in the Dáil restaurant and bar.

Documents released by the Oireachtas show the outstanding amount owed to the Dáil restaurant is €65,000, with a further €8,000 owed by TDs and Senators to the Dáil bar.

While many of the outstanding bills are short-term, almost €30,000 is owed for four months or more.

Oireachtas sources said yesterday that a new reminder system, including quarterly letters, had contributed to more prompt payments and that there were very few members, or former members, of the Oireachtas who had outstanding amounts owing for 12 months or more.

It is understood one deceased former member is among those with outstanding amounts owing but the amount is comparatively small and will not be pursued.

The records were released to The Irish Times on foot of a freedom of information request.

It included amounts for individual TDs and Senators but the Oireachtas refused to identify the names of individuals with outstanding bills.

Of the 170 people who put bills on tab in the Dáil restaurant, a total of 12 owe €1,000 or more. The highest individual outstanding amount was €3,572. That member has owed €3,166 of that amount for over four months. Seven people have owed sums of more than €1,000 for longer than four months. In total, €26,000 is owed to the restaurant for four months or more.

One member owes €938 to the Dáil bar and owes €847 of that amount for four months or more. Nearly €3,713, almost half the total outstanding amount for the bar, is owed for more than four months.

A spokesman for the Oireachtas said last night that a credit facility for the Oireachtas restaurant and bar was offered to TDs and Senators for reasons of convenience. It was also offered to former members of the Oireachtas.

“In particular, this may occur when a member is hosting groups from their constituency, such as community organisations, school tours and other delegations, in order to allow them to purchase soft drinks and other refreshments with some discretion for their visitors.”

The spokesman said the Oireachtas wrote to members with outstanding bills on a monthly basis with further follow-up if the bill remained unpaid.

“The majority of outstanding bills are settled in full at the end of each calendar month,” he said.

The spokesman also said it was relevant that the bulk of outstanding amounts related to the restaurant rather than to the bar.

This reflected TDs and Senators hosting lunches or refreshments for relatively large groups.