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

I understand it is early. Most businesses look at next year's budget at this time of the year and they do not leave it to the back end of the year. When I saw this Estimate coming through in advance of year end and next year I thought if only the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Departments could follow the example given by the Houses of the Oireachtas in coming forward with an early estimate of expenditure for the coming year it would be very good.

I wish to raise several particular issues. It will be popular to slag off politicians today, as people think there are votes to be got by running down the national Parliament. I for one do not ever believe the remarks of people in the Parliament who say they live on the minimum wage gross before tax. Their standard of living does not justify these remarks. They will say it, and some of their supporters will believe it, and it is a mantra.

Perhaps it is a little politically unpopular to say it, but I love giving facts now and again, and I looked at the total cost for next year of salaries for Members of Dáil Éireann, Chairmen of committees, travel and accommodation allowances for Deputies, the public representation allowance for Deputies and other allowances for Deputies and the same for Members of the Seanad, and out of the €131 million this comes to €30 million, which is 23% of the cost of the Oireachtas. Some people will have it that it costs €131 million to run the Oireachtas, when in fact only 23% of this goes to Deputies and Senators, and this includes running constituency offices and everything involved in it. It is quite a low proportion. Even if I add in the cost of the pensions of former Members it brings it up to approximately one third of the overall budget. The figure also includes salaries in respect of Members of the European Parliament. Payments to Deputies and politicians and the costs of running their constituencies and constituency offices represent approximately 25% of what we are speaking about. Some people would like to think it is an enormous figure, but 25% in respect of the Members with regard to running the overall business of the Oireachtas is not too severe.

I wish to refer to a number of specific issues. There is to be a massive increase in consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews next year, from €800,000 to €2.5 million. I would love to know why. The termination allowances in respect of former Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas is planned to be €3.388 million.

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