Shortall says FF delay of expense reform casts aspersions on others

LABOUR TD Róisín Shortall has claimed Fianna Fáil backbenchers are delaying reform of the Dáil expenses system and that the Opposition is being “tarnished” as a result.

However, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has insisted there “will be no delay” and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan will introduce “even more reform over and above the legislation that has already been enacted”.

As controversy continued to rage over politicians’ expenses, Ms Shortall said in the Dáil that legislation was passed in June to reform expenses of Ministers and TDs, but she accused the Minister for Finance of “sitting on it” because it had not yet been implemented.

The issue was raised during the order of business and Ms Coughlan stressed that Mr Lenihan “has indicated publicly that he proposes to introduce further reform”.

Ms Shortall angrily retorted that the proposals for “even more reform” were “nonsense”. She said: “Give us the reform that has already been agreed.”

She was referring to the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act 2009, which was passed on the last sitting Dáil day before the summer recess began in July. It cut certain payments, allowances and expenses of Ministers, TDs and Senators.

The legislation was to reduce expenses by 10 per cent, end the system of long-service payments or increments and wind up, at the next general election, pension payments to former ministers while they are still in the Oireachtas or European Parliament.

In the meantime, the pension payments were to be cut by 25 per cent. However the legislation has not been implemented.

“What is required is that the Minister sign regulations to give effect to that legislation,” Ms Shortall said. Demanding an explanation, she asked if there would be another year’s delay. The Dublin North West TD said the regulations were “long overdue” to “restore some kind of credibility to the House”.

Insisting there would be no delay, Ms Coughlan said the Minister for Finance was preparing more reforms, stronger than those passed in the summer legislation.

However Ms Shortall criticised “soundbites” from the Minister in a radio interview on Wednesday and called on the Tánaiste to be “a little more specific about what the Minister intends to do”.

Ms Coughlan said the reforms “will be brought to the House if necessary”, but the Labour TD insisted: “It is simply not acceptable that reforms are held up because of problems on the Fianna Fáil backbenches.”

Government Chief Whip Pat Carey intervened and said “that’s untrue”, but Ms Shortall said: “Let’s have action on this,” claiming that “we all are being tarnished because of their behaviour over there and we are not prepared to tolerate that”.