Every few months, the newspapers publish details of expense claims made by TDs and Senators.  This information is made available by using the Freedom of Information Act, something that I found very useful in exposing mismanagement and misappropriation at FAS. 

TDs and Senators expenses are paid by the House of Oireachtas Commission subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance.  I really do not understand why the Commission doesn’t publish details of our expenses every six months as a matter of course.  It would be a lot more transparent. Politics is an expensive business and the cost of being a TD is considerable.  It upsets me that alot of  good people genuinely believe that TDs expenses are a tax-free bonus that go straight into our pockets.  This is not case.  To prove it, I have decided to become the first TD to publish details about how I spend my expenses.  No doubt I will be criticised on some minor points but I think it is right thing to do in the main.  It is public money and the public have a right to know how public money is spent. 

As you will see, a lot of it was spent on my constituency operation.  The intellectual elite critiscises TDs for spending so much of their time and resources on constituency work rather than parliamentary work.  In reality, most TDs try to do both.  The people who elect us, our constituents, expect us to keep them informed and to look after the interests of the local area.   The constituency system and the personal mandate of TDs is enshrined in the constitution.  Political parties and the whip system are not.  To break the link between TDs and their constituencies, the public will have to vote to change the constitution first.   I doubt that such a referendum would pass.  Anyway, here’s the bit your probably interested in. 

The Expenses Incurred do not include costs associated with travel to and from the Dail or work-related travel within the Dublin West constituency or the Greater Dublin Region.  Also excluded are contributions to Fine Gael, entertainment other than for groups visiting Leinster House, the staff Christmas Party, clothing, taxis, laundry, dry-cleaning, grooming and hair dos !  Expenses incurred do include membership of business associations, academic istitutes and my local Arts Centre, advertisements in programmes for fundraisers for sports clubs and societies and charitable donations to my local hospice and some other charities operating in Dublin West.  Committee Travel which is fully vouched is not included.