Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2013
109. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and names of all Deputies in Dáil Éireann who receive the independent leader's allowance; the amount they receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33990/13]
View answerThe Party Leaders 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 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 currently entitled to an annual rate of €41,152. A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment, currently amounting to €23,383, for independent Senators.
There are currently 15 Deputies in receipt of the allowance – Catherine Murphy, Finian McGrath, John Halligan, Luke Flanagan, Mattie McGrath, Maureen O’Sullivan, Michael Healy Rae, Michael Lowry, Michael Wallace, Noel Grealish, Shane Ross, Seamus Healy, Stephen Donnelly, Thomas Pringle and Tom Fleming.
In the context of the Expenditure Estimates for 2013, I announced that a 10% reduction will be applied to the Party Leaders Allowance rates payable to qualifying leaders of political parties and to qualifying independent Members. I also announced my intention to amend the legislation to improve the transparency of the Allowance by providing for auditing provisions to apply to independent Members in receipt of such payments. I have taken the opportunity to conduct a review of the Allowance and a consultation process has been undertaken with leaders of qualifying parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission. On foot of that review, I intend to bring proposals to Government very shortly on necessary amendments to the legislation underpinning the Allowance, including amendments to implement the measures I have already announced.
