I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 282 together.
The Party Leader's Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 2001. The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. Payments are made in respect of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election, or a subsequent bye-election or, in the case of Seanad Éireann, nominated to it after the last preceding general election. The conditions governing entitlement to payment of the allowance are set out in the Act. The primary restriction in the Act on the use of the allowance is that it may not be used in respect of election expenses.
Under the legislation, the amounts paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party are calculated on the following basis:
TDs
|
€
|
Government Parties* €
|
First 10 members
|
71,520
|
47,680
|
11 members to 30
|
57,214
|
38,143
|
More than 30 members
|
28,616
|
19,077
|
Senators
|
€
|
First 5 members
|
46,766
|
Over 5 members
|
23,383
|
*The legislation provides that, in the case of a qualifying party forming part of the Government, the combined allowances due in respect of TDs of that party are reduced by one third.
The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil Éireann, who at the last preceding general election or at a subsequent bye-election was elected as a member other than as a member of a qualifying party. Such qualifying Independent TDs are entitled to an annual rate of €41,152. A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment of €23,383 for Independent Senators.
The total amounts of the allowances paid to 31 December 2011 and number of payments made in respect of each party and each Independent TD and Senator is at Appendix I. Payments specified in respect of qualifying members of Dáil Éireann are for the period 25 February 2011 to 31 December 2011. Having regard to members of Seanad Éireann, in the case of elected members, the allowance was payable from 26 April 2011. In the case of members nominated by the Taoiseach, the allowance was payable from 20 May 2011. The allowances are generally payable monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance.
The 2001 Act gives a statutory oversight role in relation to the Party Leader's Allowance to the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission. This requires each party leader to prepare a statement of expenditure for the allowance, to have it audited by an independent auditor and furnish it with the auditor's report to the Commission. Based on the accounts submitted, the Commission is required to make a report to the Minister in relation to the use of the Party Leader's Allowance and cause a copy of the report to be laid before the Oireachtas. Allowances paid to Independent members are not subject to these oversight provisions and there is no legislative provision under the 2001 Act whereby voluntary statements of expenditure can be submitted. Any changes to the matters prescribed in the Act require primary legislation.
As previously indicated, I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the allowance.
Party Leader's Allowance — amounts paid to December 2011*
Party
|
Total €
|
Number of payments
|
Fine Gael
|
2,250,522.74
|
10
|
Fianna Fáil
|
1,462,769,98
|
10
|
Labour
|
1,462,570.11
|
10
|
Sinn Fein
|
893,432.68
|
10
|
Socialist Party
|
120,902.86
|
10
|
People Before Profit
|
120,902.86
|
10
|
Independent TDs
|
|
|
F McGrath
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
M Lowry
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
M O Sullivan
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
S Ross
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Michael Wallace
|
0.00
|
Nil
|
Michael Healy Rae
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Noel Grealish
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Stephen Donnelly
|
34,783.20
|
6
|
Luke Flanagan
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
John Halligan
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Mattie McGrath
|
34,783.20
|
8
|
Catherine Murphy
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Thomas Pringle
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
Tom Fleming
|
34,293.30
|
9
|
Seamus Healy
|
34,783.20
|
10
|
|
|
|
Independent Senators
|
|
|
D Norris
|
15,913.41
|
8
|
F Quinn
|
15,913.40
|
8
|
R Mullen
|
15,913.40
|
8
|
John Crown
|
15,913.40
|
8
|
Sean Barrett
|
15,913.40
|
7
|
Martin McAleese
|
3,247.63
|
1
|
Fiach Mac Conghaill
|
14,394.35
|
6
|
Eamon Coghlan
|
14,394.35
|
7
|
Dr. Katherine Zappone
|
14,394.35
|
7
|
Mary Ann O Brien
|
14,394.35
|
7
|
Marie-Louise O’Donnell
|
14,394.35
|
7
|
Jillian van Turnhaut
|
14,394.35
|
7
|
*Members of Dáil Éireann — Total amount paid for the period 25 February 2011 to 31 December 2011.
Members of Seanad Éireann — Total amount paid for the period 26 April 2011 to 31 December 2011 in the case of elected members and from 20 May 2011 to 31 December in the case of members nominated by the Taoiseach.