Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I welcome this opportunity to discuss the Bill. Where politicians are concerned, nothing has taken up as much space on the airwaves or column inches in the print media as pay. Every Deputy wants to be open and fair. The main issue is the lack of understanding on the part of the public and the media about how politicians accrue expenses. Deputy Barrett illustrated the issue of pensions very well. The media and public do not understand the cost of running a modern political set-up in a constituency. In some rural areas, Members have two or three constituency offices, which cost money. The Minister may laugh but there are Members of the Dáil with two or three constituency offices, some of whom are in his party and others who are in my party. The offices represent a very significant cost and burden.

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