by Alan Jacques
AUSTERITY did not unduly affect Limerick members of the Oireachtas during the downturn with reports of up to half a million euro in pay, expenses and allowances since the current Government came to power in March 2011.
According to a database compiled by the RTÉ editorial investigations unit, based on figures provided by the Oireachtas, Limerick TDs were among 80 Dail deputies to receive more than €500,000 since 2011.
Fine Gael’s Dan Neville received the highest of the Limerick politicians at €529,585.47, followed by party colleague Patrick O’Donovan at €518,891,05. Fianna Fail’s Niall Collins received €517,966,96 and Willie O’Dea received €516,510,15. Fine Gael’s Kieran O’Donnell held up the rear with €500,794,40.
According to RTE’s findings, Finance Minister Michael Noonan received €354,738,49 while Education Minister, Jan O’Sullivan received €390,248,52. However, the database did not take into account the extra salaries paid on an annual basis to ministers or ministers of state, which is paid out by their individual departments. It is predicted that these extra salaries would bring both Limerick Ministers’ earnings well to up over the half a million mark.
Deputy Dan Neville received €29,770 in expenses and allowances of €7,125 last year. Deputy Patrick O’Donovan received €29,770 in expenses and Deputy Kieran O’Donnell received €29,575 in 2014. According to the RTE figures, Fianna Fail deputies Willie O’Dea and Niall Collins both received expenses amounting to €29,575 last year.
Limerick Fine Gael TDs Dan Neville, Patrick O’Donovan and Kieran O’Donnell and Fianna Fail TDs Willie O’Dea and Niall Collins’ salaries in 2014 was €65,443, down from €89,965 in 2013, €92,672 in 2012 and €78,329 in 2011.
As Minister of State, Jan O’Sullivan last year received expenses amounting to €9,333, down from €16,000 in 2013 €20,000 in 2012. She was also paid a salary of €65,443 in 2014, €89,965 in 2013, €92,672 in 2012 and €78,329 in 2011.
Minister Michael Noonan received expenses of €3,500 last year and €1,200 in 2013 which was a major drop from his expenses of €12,000 in 2012 and €11,627 in 2011. According to RTE’s findings, Minister Noonan’s salary was €65,443 in 2014, €89,965 in 2013, €92,672 in 2012 and €78,329 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD, Patrick O’Donovan said it’s no wonder that most of the current crop of independent TDs and Senators have decided to pass on the prospect of establishing or joining a new political party when they received over €813,000 in leader’s allowances in 2014.
“Independent leader’s allowances for sitting TDs came to over €563,000 in 2014, while in the Seanad independents claimed almost €250,000,” Deputy O’Donovan explained.
“The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader’s Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act and provides a boost to the incomes of those who are eligible. It’s hardly surprising that a number of independents have decided not to miss out on this allowance to join a leaderless, mish-mash of politicians who have no defined policy,” he claimed.
Anti Austerity Alliance councillor Cian Prendiville told the Limerick Post that he believes, as a point of principle, that TDs should live on the average industrial wage.
“There is a serious problem in my opinion when a TD’s basic salary is €90k, and a Minister’s almost €160k — more than four times the average industrial wage before expenses. It would take a worker on the government’s Gateway scheme, working for Limerick Council, over 500 years to earn what Minister Noonan has earned in the lifetime of this government,” Cllr Prendiville pointed out.
“The reality is we have government by the rich, for the rich. I believe, as a point of principle, TDs should live on the average industrial wage. That is what we need more of in this country; workers’ TDs on a workers’ wage,” he concluded.
