Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

Some have two and others have three; that is the reality. The offices may not be open full-time but people come to them in these difficult times with various problems that must be solved.

I set up an office here when I started in Leinster House. I needed this office but, because of the demands on Members, I had to open offices in my constituency to serve people. Their cost must be considered but this is not understood. It is not understood that, when a Member is away from home, he is entitled to an overnight allowance and travel expenses. People do not understand that and believe we put the allowances in our pockets. We all have to have extra cars and ways of getting around, as the case may be.

The real issue, in respect of which Deputy Barrett mentioned a review, is that we should make an effort in this House to address these matters because we are doing damage to ourselves. There are people who will opt for the populist line at all times but it must be remembered that, by doing so, we are doing damage to the body politic. None of us wants his or her family to be embarrassed or to have headlines stating who is on top of published tables of expenses. With regard to freedom of information, there are humans behind the statistics; there are children and spouses. The highlighting by the media of the circumstances of a married couple in this House was grossly unfair. As politicians we should stand together and explain to the media and public what we do. They do not understand. When there is a review of politicians' pay, pensions and increments, as Deputy Barrett called for, the House should, as one unit, explain to the people that we are not trying to pocket the money. As Members have said, one does not get rich in here. One does one's job and one does it as best one can. There are many committed Members in the House trying to do so.

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