GIVING GOOD example can be an onerous obligation. But that is what elected representatives have to do at this time of unprecedented financial difficulty. Criticising individuals and institutions whose greed, unethical behaviour and incompetence brought us to this point is not enough. Unless TDs and Senators are willing to lead by example and accept substantial cuts in their lavish expenses and allowances, public confidence in our democracy may be damaged.
So far, the all-party Oireachtas Commission has failed to offer the kind of vigorous response that would convince people who have lost their jobs that their pain is being shared. TDs’ salaries are, indeed, subject to the same levies and charges as other public sector workers. But their regime of unvouched expenses and allowances is so generous and unorthodox that it creates an image of a self-serving, comfortable elite.
Former government minister and serving TD Ned O’Keeffe described the Oireachtas Commission, which regulates the conditions and expenses of TDs and Senators, as “a monopoly and monster”. Just so. It was not supposed to be like that. Established in the aftermath of the Dirt inquiry, the commission was granted the status of a government department and encouraged to conduct investigations and to manage and fund its own affairs. But an early attempt to get rid of unvouched expenses was rejected by members. And when the government declined to legislate for effective, investigative committees following the failed Abbeylara inquiry, its creative energy switched to allowances and conditions.
TDs, or any other group, should not decide their own employment conditions. Five years ago the commission decided they each needed a personal researcher/assistant to do their work effectively. Nothing wrong with that. Except that many of them, including ministers who already enjoyed such assistance, were allowed to pocket a portion of the €40,000 salary if they decided a researcher was not required. And, of course, a wife or relative could always do the job at home in the constituency. The cost of this parliamentary support jumped by almost €6 million in the first year.
Recently, the Minister for Finance suggested the all-party commission should lead by example and cut allowances and expenses as part of the Government’s plan to save €2 billion on public spending this year. It didn’t happen. Instead, the commission feinted at reform by rolling a variety of constituency, travel and overnight allowances into one coherent system. But the overall cost to the State remained the same. Now, as public sector workers threaten strike action against a pension levy, Brian Lenihan has written again to the commission, insisting it has to reduce costs. The response he receives will say a great deal about our elected representatives and their willingness, in changed circumstances, to distance themselves from a shoddy past. Reform of expenses and allowances should go hand-in-hand with reform of bloated Government structures. A convincing case has never been made for 20 ministers of state. And the number of Oireachtas committees should be cut.