The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938, as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and 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, 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 legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil or Seanad Éireann who is elected other than as a member of a qualifying party.
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. The allowance is non-taxable and is paid monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance.
The legislation provides that each party leader must 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 Standards in Public Office (the Commission) Commission. Based on the accounts submitted, the Commission is required to make a report in relation to the use of the Parliamentary Activities Allowance and cause a copy of the report to be laid before the Oireachtas.
Following a review of the allowance and a consultation process with leaders of qualifying political parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission, I provided for certain amendments to the allowance under this year's Act.
The Act provided for a reduction of 10% in the rates of the allowance with effect from 1 July of this year, representing an estimated full year Exchequer saving of €0.84 million. Furthermore, with effect from 1 July, the same audit and reporting provisions that apply to parliamentary leaders now also apply to independent members in receipt of the allowance. For the first time, all independent members have to record and account to the Commission for expenditure from the allowance, all of which is to be expended in respect of parliamentary activities, including research.
The total amounts paid to each qualifying party and independent member from 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2014 are as follows:
|
Party
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Sept. 2014
|
|
Fianna Fáil
|
€2,730,839.76
|
€2,867,494.65
|
€2,915,876.00
|
€2,871,363.60
|
€1,746,500.88
|
€1,674,402.96
|
€1,674,402.96
|
€1,213,943.22
|
|
Fine Gael
|
€2,435,377.93
|
€2,845,636.90
|
€2,921,385.00
|
€2,909,462.34
|
€2,579,029.69
|
€2,678,402.64
|
€2,687,388.61
|
€1,950,256.76
|
|
Labour
|
€1,399,650.66
|
€1,536,056.85
|
€1,564,039.00
|
€1,499,736.06
|
€1,634,607.19
|
€1,789,782.96
|
€1,789,782.96
|
€1,287,905.70
|
|
Progressive Democrats
|
€308,167.94
|
€185,080.70
|
€47,223.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Sinn Féin
|
€297,321.50
|
€326,078.34
|
€332,846.00
|
€335,424.57
|
€933,875.54
|
€1,084,353.96
|
€1,084,353.96
|
€786,156.72
|
|
Socialist Party
|
€22,408.31
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€120,902.86
|
€137,080.00
|
€74,360.42
|
€78,184.18
|
|
Green Party
|
€347,518.10
|
€371,893.05
|
€383,509.00
|
€426,378.00
|
€75,583.10
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
People Before Profit
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€120,902.86
|
€143,040.00
|
€143,040.00
|
€103,704.00
|
|
Total
|
€7,541,284.20
|
€8,132,240.49
|
€8,164,878.00
|
€8,042,364.57
|
€7,211,402.12
|
€7,507,062.52
|
€7,453,328.91
|
€5,420,150.58
|
|
Independent TDs
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Sept. 2014
|
Total
|
|
Beverly Flynn
|
€23,984.07
|
€40,319.50
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€64,303.57
|
|
Catherine Murphy
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€159,815.84
|
|
Finian McGrath
|
€36,877.55
|
€40,317.03
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€39,437.30
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€311,074.96
|
|
Jackie Healy Rae
|
€36,877.55
|
€40,315.03
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€4,654.09
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€164,150.59
|
|
James Breen
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Jerry Cowley
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
John Halligan
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Luke "Ming" Flanagan
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€16,535.95
|
€133,623.07
|
|
Marian Harkin
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Mattie McGrath
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Maureen O Sullivan
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€24,005.31
|
€41,151.96
|
€39,437.30
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€216,733.73
|
|
Michael Healy Rae
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Michael Lowry
|
€36,877.55
|
€40,315.03
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€39,437.30
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€311,072.96
|
|
Michael Wallace
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€75,935.16
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Mildred Fox
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Noel Grealish
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Paddy McHugh
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Paudge Connolly
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Shane Ross
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Seamus Healy
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€159,815.84
|
|
Stephen Donnelly
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Thomas Pringle
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,783.20
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,922.36
|
|
Tom Fleming
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€34,293.30
|
€41,151.96
|
€41,151.96
|
€29,835.24
|
€146,432.46
|
|
Tom Gildea
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Tony Gregory
|
€36,877.55
|
€40,315.03
|
€221.25
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€77,413.83
|
|
Harry Blaney
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Niall Blaney
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Liam Twomey
|
€12,893.48
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,893.48
|
|
Total
|
€300,429.07
|
€201,581.62
|
€147,682.44
|
€164,607.84
|
€505,091.31
|
€652,062.60
|
€617,279.40
|
€434,229.31
|
€3,022,963.59
|
|
Independent Senators
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Sept. 2014
|
Total
|
|
Mary Henry
|
€12,854.60
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€12,854.60
|
|
David Norris
|
€22,128.35
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,112.33
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€179,070.48
|
|
Joe O'Toole
|
€22,128.35
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€7,198.92
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€99,438.42
|
|
Feargal Quinn
|
€22,128.35
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,112.32
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€179,070.47
|
|
Shane Ross
|
€22,128.35
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€3,618.79
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€95,858.29
|
|
Eoghan Harris
|
€9,273.75
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€7,198.92
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€86,583.82
|
|
Ronan Mullen
|
€9,273.75
|
€23,345.23
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,112.32
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€166,215.87
|
|
John Crown
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€15,913.40
|
€18,388.64
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€74,637.73
|
|
Sean Barrett
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€15,913.40
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€79,632.05
|
|
Martin McAleese
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€3,247.63
|
€23,382.96
|
€3,897.16
|
€0.00
|
€30,527.75
|
|
Fiach Mac Conghail
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Eamon Coughlan
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Dr Katherine Zappone
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Mary Ann O'Brien
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Marie Louise O'Donnell
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Jillian Van Turnhout
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€14,394.35
|
€23,382.96
|
€23,382.96
|
€16,952.73
|
€78,113.00
|
|
Maurice Hayes
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Ivana Bacik
|
€9,274.00
|
€22,908.00
|
€5,846.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€38,028.00
|
|
Total
|
€129,189.50
|
€162,979.38
|
€146,143.76
|
€140,297.76
|
€208,794.15
|
€275,601.20
|
€261,109.72
|
€186,480.03
|
€1,510,595.50
|
Responsibility for the Electoral Acts is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Under section 17 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended by section 50(c) of the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, provision is made for two payments to be made to qualified political parties.
Section 17(1)(a) of the 1997 Act, as amended, provides for a fixed payment of €126,973.81 (£100,000) to be made to each qualified party in each period of 12 months.
Section 17(1)(b) of the 1997 Act, as amended, provides for an annual sum to be shared among qualified political parties. When introduced in 2001, the legislation provided for an amount of €3,809,214 (£3,000,000) to be shared. In accordance with the legislation, the sum has increased in line with general increases in Civil Service remuneration. The current sum shared amongst qualified parties amounts to €4,948,201.68, and to €5,456,096.92 when the fixed amount referred to above is included.
Payments under section 17(1)(b) are calculated on the basis of the share of first preference votes obtained by an individual qualified party at the previous general election. These shares are calculated by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. Payments are made quarterly in arrears.
The conditions attaching to payment 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.
The amounts paid from 1 Jan 2007 to 30 September 2014 are as follows:
|
Section 17(1)(a), as amended
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Sept. 2014
|
|
Fianna Fáil
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.81
|
€126,973.81
|
€95,230.35
|
|
Fine Gael
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.81
|
€126,973.81
|
€95,230.35
|
|
Labour
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.81
|
€126,973.81
|
€95,230.35
|
|
Progressive Democrats
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Sinn Féin
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.81
|
€126,973.81
|
€126,973.81
|
€95,230.35
|
|
Green Party
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€126,973.80
|
€51,142.43
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Total
|
€761,842.80
|
€761,842.80
|
€634,869.00
|
€634,869.00
|
€559,037.64
|
€507,895.24
|
€507,895.24
|
€380,921.40
|
|
Section 17(1)(b), as amended
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Sept. 2014
|
|
Fianna Fáil
|
€2,247,246.89
|
€2,157,897.72
|
€2,202,444.28
|
€2,202,444.28
|
€1,508,733.78
|
€1,040,882.44
|
€1,040,882.44
|
€780,661.83
|
|
Fine Gael
|
€1,361,733.52
|
€1,418,656.54
|
€1,447,942.56
|
€1,447,942.56
|
€1,869,664.07
|
€2,154,080.84
|
€2,154,080.84
|
€1,615,560.63
|
|
Labour
|
€665,763.21
|
€525,730.01
|
€536,582.88
|
€536,582.88
|
€909,076.40
|
€1,160,292.92
|
€1,160,292.92
|
€870,219.69
|
|
Progressive Democrats
|
€307,361.31
|
€141,759.19
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Sinn Féin
|
€467,226.64
|
€360,457.65
|
€367,898.76
|
€367,898.76
|
€502,301.67
|
€592,945.48
|
€592,945.48
|
€444,709.11
|
|
Green Party
|
€338,588.66
|
€243,617.98
|
€248,647.08
|
€248,647.08
|
€100,149.53
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
€0.00
|
|
Total
|
€5,387,920.23
|
€4,848,119.09
|
€4,803,515.56
|
€4,803,515.56
|
€4,889,925.45
|
€4,948,201.68
|
€4,948,201.68
|
€3,711,151.26
|
The provision of secretarial facilities for Members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann and for qualifying Parties falls under the remit of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The current provisions are set out in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Secretarial Facilities) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 2 of 2013).
