Lenihan seeks cut in expenses paid to TDs and senators

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said today he has discussed ways of reducing the amount of expenses paid to TDs and senators, in the wake of controversy over an allowance paid to Mayo TD Beverly Flynn.

Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Mr Lenihan said today he had held talks with the Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue over the amount of expenditure which parties in the Daíl are allowed to spend on themselves. He said that he had requested a reduction in the limit.

According to official Oireachtas figures, allowances and expenses, including travel costs, are budgeted to hit €14.6 million this year.

The news come following the revelation that Beverly Flynn has refused to give up a €41,000-a-year State allowance given to Independent TDs, despite having rejoined Fianna Fáil.

"The expenditure of the Daíl and the Senate is controlled on an all-party basis by an Oireachtas commission and reprsents all parties," said Mr Lenihan.

"What I will do as Minister for Finance is to reduce the amount of money available to them because I do understand the public unease at the amount of expenditure being spent on the perquisites of members of Daíl Eireann and Seanad Eireann. It is an issue that should be addresssed," he added.

Mr Lenihan refused to directly criticise Ms Flynn during the interview on Morning Ireland.

When questioned about her current status as a Fianna Fáil party member on Mayo station Midwest Radio last Friday, Ms Flynn said that she was elected to this Dáil term as an Independent TD and on that basis was entitled to the payment for the duration of the current Dáil.

All Independent TDs are entitled to the allowance because they do not have the support of a political party structure. The payment is based on the status of the TD when elected and is paid for the duration of the Dáil, regardless of whether or not the TD subsequently joins a political party.

When Ms Flynn was expelled from Fianna Fáil in 2004 after her failed RTÉ libel case, she was not entitled to the allowance because she had been elected as a Fianna Fáil party TD.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said he will be discussing the situation with Ms Flynn over the coming weeks.

Labour party spokeswoman on the environment Joanna Tuffy said Mr Cowen must ensure the payment to Ms Flynn ceases and that regulations are changed so the same situation doesn’t happen again.

“Deputy Flynn’s behaviour since the story emerged last week has incensed public opinion is damaging the entire political system,” she said in a statement.

“Deputy Flynn’s attempt to compare her payment to the allowance paid to Party Leaders is particularly disingenuous,” she added.

Speaking on The Last Word with Matt Cooper on Today FM Eamon O'Cuiv, Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, said Beverly Flynn's decision to continue claiming the independent TDs allowance was unwise.

"I think she's foolish. I heard the technical point that she has made but the reality is that she has now joined Fianna Fáil. It's unwise for her to claim that money."

The minister also said that the legislation governing the area should be examined: "It does seem farcical that somebody who gets elected as a party politician, even if they were to leave the party the following day, would not have the support of the party and not get the independent's allowance and vice versa and I think that's an issue has to be considered."