Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and I support this legislation.

The Sinn Féin pre-budget submission this year included a measure to cut the leader's allowance by 10%. In the past it has called for reductions in the pay of the Taoiseach, Ministers and Members of the Oireachtas. I fully support cutting allowances and salaries, but I will not take my clothes off. I doubt that the public is ready for 226 naked politicians running around.

I wish to mention a few issues in respect of the legislation. Obviously, we acknowledge that some of these allowances are used for parliamentary related activities but unless there is a fully transparent mechanism to make public all the revenue and expenditure relating to the political parties, there will be some distrust among the public. There will always be the feeling that politicians have an easy ride in comparison to the majority of citizens in the State. Young people at present, on foot of the cuts in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, will feel particularly put out on seeing the salaries and allowances of politicians. That generates disillusionment and disdain for the political system.

We would have liked the legislation to provide for the withdrawal of the committee chairperson allowance. Participation in committees should be made compulsory and there should be no additional allowance. It is part of the role of a Deputy and Senator. With regard to SIPO, expanding its role is the right way to proceed but it should perhaps be complemented by increased staff numbers and training. Introducing legislation to enhance oversight of public moneys without implementing corresponding changes to increase the staffing of these bodies could be meaningless.

In the North political parties are required under law to provide a full income and expenditure annual financial statement to the Electoral Commission. What are the Minister's thoughts on the introduction of such a system here?