Twelve one-man-band ‘leaders’ among a 60-person Irish Senate

The Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Office) (Amendment) Act 2001  provides that members of a political party elected to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election, or nominated to it after the last preceding general election, as members of that party may qualify for the following allowances as parliamentary leaders —

(i) an annual allowance of €31,743, where not more than 5 members of that party are so elected or nominated, and

(ii) an annual allowance of €15,872, where more than 5 members of that party are so elected or nominated.

This allowance, which is free of income tax, maybe spend as follows:

(a) the general administration of the parliamentary activities of a qualifying party

(b) the provision of technical or specialist advice likely to be required in connection with legislative proposals or potential parliamentary initiatives

(c) research and training

(d) policy formulation

(e) the provision of consultants’ services, including the engagement of public relations consultants

(f) polling or public attitude sampling in connection with parliamentary debates or initiatives

(g) the purchase of support services for a parliamentary party from the party

(h) the payment to a parliamentary leader of any salary or honorarium in respect of duties arising from his or her activities as such leader as distinct from those of a member of Dáil Éireann or a holder of a ministerial office,

(i) the payment to another person of any salary or honorarium in respect of duties arising from the person's activities in a parliamentary party,

(j) the provision for, or recoupment of, transport and personal expenditure incurred by a parliamentary leader, officers or a parliamentary party spokesperson as a result of their parliamentary party function,

(k) entertainment

Seanad Éireann #24 convened for the first time on 25 May 2011 and met on a subsequent 67 days in 2011.  It has emerged that among the 60 senators twelve are being paid a parliamentary leader’s allowance – although not one of them is apparently representing on of the 18 political parties listed in the Register of Political Parties in November 2011.

The 68 sitting days have cost €2,339,883.05 in direct remuneration, €1,322,093.95 paid free of tax in respect of travel and accommodation and €169,181.64 to pay the ‘12 parliamentary leaders’.  Those receiving the parliamentary allowances include 7 nominees of the Taoiseach:

Senator	Parliamentary Leader’s Allowance	Travel & Accommodation	TOTAL
Barrett, S	15,913.41	22,020.03	37,933.44
Coughlan, E	14,394.35	10,003.32	24,397.67
Crown, J	15,914.49	11,058.97	26,973.37
McAleese, M	3,247.63	5,117.77	8,365.40
MacConghaill, F	14,394.35	3,000.00	17,394.35
Mullen, R	15,913.40	11,058.97	26,972.37
Norris, D	15,913.40	11,058.97	26,972.37
O’Brien, MA	14,382.25	21,299.44	35,693.69
O’Donnell, ML	14,394.35	10,003.32	24,397.67
Quinn, F	15,913.40	11,058.97	26,972.37
vanTurnhaut, J	14,394.35	10,003.35	24,397.67
Zappone, K	14,394.35	19.918.05	34,312.40
TOTAL	€169,181.64	€145,601.13	€314,782.77