Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2023
120. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby a Deputy who resigns his or her party Whip loses his or her parliamentary activities allowance; if he will seek to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware from her previous enquiries to officials in my Department, provision for the Parliamentary Activities Allowance is made under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial & Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014.
The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying Party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities of the Party. The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a Member of Dáil or Seanad Éireann who is elected as an Independent Member.
Payments are calculated by reference to the number of members elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann and is fixed at the time of the election, or following a bye-election. Members subsequently leaving or joining Parties does not affect the position.
The Parliamentary Activities Allowance will only change during a Dáil term where a TD or Senator is no longer a Member of the Oireachtas e.g. if a TD or Senator was to resign the relevant monthly payment would be adjusted accordingly.
Accordingly, the position has been and continues to be that, after every General Election or Bye-Election, the allowance payments are re-calculated based on the results.
