Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree. I am probably a lone voice in saying this in the House. There is no one here to listen to me aside from the Minister, but I think the practice is wrong. I do not know why it grew. It has existed for decades, including when my party was in Government. However, in these days of openness and transparency, I ask the Minister to think about this point. It would be valid for these allowances to be voted through the House each year and it would also be valid to vote on pensions and so forth. I understand there is some expenditure for postal purposes for elections and referenda that is not subject to a vote but is also paid from the Central Fund. Perhaps it is because one cannot properly estimate those expenditures at the beginning of the year but a nominal Estimate could be included. It would be better if Parliament discussed all expenditure. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform should try to achieve that, to ensure all expenditure of taxpayers' money is discussed and voted through the House in the Estimates process each year. This allowance should be part of that process and should also be discussed in the House each year. That is the reason for the amendment.

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