asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount paid to date to each Party leader under the provisions of Section 10. Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938 [No. 38 of 1938], since the date of passing of the Act and what amounts are being paid at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Party Leaders' Remuneration
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows in respect of the period which expired on the 31st October, 1951:—
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Deputy W.T. Cosgrave |
4,058 |
5 |
11 |
|
Deputy Richard Mulcahy |
3,376 |
4 |
0 |
|
Deputy Éamon de Valera |
3,345 |
14 |
3 |
|
Deputy William Norton |
2,973 |
1 |
4 |
|
Deputy Joesph Blowick |
1,747 |
15 |
9 |
|
Deputy T.F. O' Higgins |
312 |
17 |
10 |
|
Deputy M. Donnellan |
121 |
5 |
4 |
The amounts payable at present to the leaders of the second and third Parties are £1,040 and £650 per annum respectively. I must emphasise that these payments are not made as personal remuneration to the Deputies concerned but are made to enable then to meet the secretarial and other expenses which are necessarily incurred by them in the discharge of their duties to the House as leaders of the two largest Opposition Parties.
Will the Minister state if an application has to be made in each case for these allowances?
Yes, I believe so.
Is the Minister aware that, when this Bill was under discussion, Deputy Norton said that, under no consideration, would he ever touch a penny of this money?
I am not in a position to say whether Deputy Norton used that phrase but, if he did, he has obviously changed his mind now, and he is a very wise man.
Is it not a fact that this proposal was made by the then Government—Fianna Fáil—in order to provide facilities for the Opposition Parties in the Dáil with a view to helping them to have some element of a secretarial side which would be to them what the Civil Service is to the Government? Therefore, Deputy Brady's suggestion that a person now being paid this allowance once said that he would not touch a penny of it is simply a dirty bit of mud-slinging.
I think all that requires an answer. Deputy Brady did not sling any mud. He simply drew attention to the fact that a person applied and, in my view, quite rightly applied for this allowance as leader of the second largest Party in Opposition in this House. This person made a statement which, on mature consideration, he found to be unwise and, indeed, a statement which was contrary to the public interest.
The Minister simply does not recognise the Fianna Fáil mud-slinging technique.
Deputy Brady rose.
Deputies
Sit down.
I will sit down only on instructions from the Chair. I will obey the Chair and not anybody from the opposite side.
Keep your mud to yourself.
I would not like to take a copy from the Deputy.
Mr. O'Higgins
The Minister for Finance inspired that question, I suppose.
I cannot compel you to ask Deputy O'Higgins to withdraw that remark. That statement is an utterly false one. I did not inspire that question. In fact, I saw nothing about it until it was handed to me yesterday, when I made certain changes to bring out the facts.
Mr. O'Higgins
I accept the Minister's statement.