Written answers
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Department of Finance
Ministerial Expenses
9:00 pm
George Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Finance the rules and regulations of the expenses regime for Government Ministers; if restrictions are imposed on ministerial expenses; the amount that has been claimed in expenses by each Minister in his Department from 1997 to 2008; the reasons these expenses were claimed; his plans to introduce new rules or reform the system of payment of expenses to Ministers in order to minimise the risk of abuse of the ministerial expenses system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30545/09]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Ministers may receive allowances to cover the expenses they incur as members of the Oireachtas and as holders of Ministerial Office. The specific allowances payable in respect of Ministerial Office are described below. Ministers are entitled to subsistence payments when they are absent from their headquarters and home on official business. In general, expense allowances have been reduced by 10%. However, mileage rates have been reduced by 25%. Revised guidelines relating to foreign travel were issued by my Department on 1 July 2009.
The MEA is payable to Office holders, TDs and Senators. This allowance is designed to reimburse the individual for additional expenses incurred through being a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas which are not already encompassed by other allowances for specific expenses.
| Member | Rate |
| Taoiseach | â¬13,000 pa |
| Minister | â¬12,000 pa |
| Minister of State | â¬11,000 pa |
| Other Office holders | â¬8,200 pa |
Office Accommodation Allowance
There is a one-off grant towards the cost of setting up a constituency office, the Constituency Office Grant, of â¬8,000. Thereafter, there is an annual grant of â¬8,000 towards the running cost of the office.
Special Secretarial Allowance for Ministers
There are two options available to Ministers; either a fully vouched annual amount of up to â¬41,902 for employing a temporary staff member or for the purchase of secretarial equipment and services; or a vouched annual amount of â¬11,591 for work or service done or employment of a temporary person, plus an un-vouched annual amount of â¬8,888.
Details of travel and subsistence payments
The following tables contain details of the subsistence expenses paid to Ministers for Finance for the period 2003-2008. Hotel accommodation charges are generally paid directly to the hotel by, or on behalf, of the Department. The earliest information readily available from the Department's Accounting system is from 2003 when the system was upgraded.
Details of payments by this Department to Ministers of State at the Office of Public Works are also set out below. It has not been possible in the time available to compile all information in relation to expenses claims paid by the Office of Public Works to the Ministers of State. This information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy shortly. Travel and Subsistence claims for 2003 for Minister McCreevy
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2003 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬193.34 |
| Feb 2003 | Florida | Business | â¬302.96 |
| Feb 2003 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬193.34 |
| Mar 2003 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬133.00 |
| Mar 2003 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬154.67 |
| Apr 2003 | Athens | Informal ECOFIN | â¬158.00 |
| May 2003 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬290.03 |
| Jun 2003 | Luxembourg | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬229.10 |
| Jun 2003 | Berlin | German Finance Minister | â¬254.67 |
| Jul 2003 | Bali, Indonesia | ASEM | â¬524.78 |
| Jul 2003 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬308.56 |
| Sep 2003 | Italy- Stresa | Informal Ecofin | â¬363.25 |
| Sep 2003 | UAE Dubai | IMF/World Bank | â¬650.75 |
| Oct 2003 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | â¬222.89 |
| Oct 2003 | Brussels | European Council | â¬150.67 |
| Oct 2003 | Italy- Venice | W.Duisenberg Event | â¬447.75 |
| Nov 2003 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Nov 2003 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬187.96 |
| Nov 2003 | Brussels | European Council | â¬150.29 |
| Total | â¬5,066.30 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2004 for Minister McCreevy
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2004 | Frankfurt | European Central Bank | â¬114.32 |
| Jan 2004 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬187.96 |
| Jan 2004 | Brussels | EMAC | ⬠75.33 |
| Feb 2004 | Florida /Brussels | G7 & ECOFIN | â¬565.85 |
| Mar 2004 | Brussels | Eurogroup & ECOFIN | â¬187.96 |
| Mar 2004 | Brussels | GAERC | ⬠37.67 |
| Mar 2004 | Brussels | European Council | â¬150.29 |
| Apr 2004 | London | ERBD | â¬126.47 |
| Apr 2004 | Washington/NY | IMF/World Bank | â¬1,053.20 |
| May 2007 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬187.96 |
| May 2004 | New York | G7 | â¬405.28 |
| May 2004 | London | British & Irish Ombudsman | â¬156.12 |
| Jun 2004 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | â¬267.55 |
| Jun 2004 | Brussels | Conference | ⬠37.67 |
| Jul 2004 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Jul 2004 | Lisbon | Commission Seminar | ⬠82.46 |
| Aug 2004 | Brussels | Commission Seminar | ⬠75.33 |
| Aug 2004 | Brussels | Commission Seminar | â¬150.29 |
| Sep 2004 | Brussels | Commission Seminar | â¬225.62 |
| Sep 2004 | Scheveningen | Informal ECOFIN | â¬226.10 |
| Sep 2004 | Brussels | Commission Seminar | â¬375.91 |
| Sep 2004 | Brussels | Commission Seminar | â¬185.62 |
| Total | â¬5,025.25 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2004 for Minister Brian Cowen
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Oct 2004 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | â¬178.22 |
| Nov 2004 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Dec 2004 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Total | â¬478.80 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2005 for Minister Brian Cowen
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2005 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Feb 2005 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬187.96 |
| Mar 2005 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬150.29 |
| Mar 2005 | Atlanta/Georgia | US St. Patrick's Day Programme | â¬1,346.95 |
| Mar 2005 | Brussels | European Council | â¬150.29 |
| Apr 2005 | Luxembourg | Eurogroup | ⬠89.33 |
| May 2005 | Brussels | Meeting With EU Agriculture Commissioner | ⬠35.17 |
| May 2005 | Luxembourg | Informal ECOFIN | ⬠190.00 |
| May 2005 | Belgium | Inauguration of restoration works at the Irish College Leuven | ⬠50.00 |
| Jun 2005 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | ⬠190.00 |
| Jun 2005 | China -Peking | ASEM Meeting China | ⬠552.96 |
| Jul 2005 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬140.67 |
| Jul 2005 | Germany -Berlin | Meeting with German Finance Minister | ⬠133.33 |
| Sep 2005 | Washington DC | IMF/World Bank | â¬1,501.53 |
| Oct 2005 | Luxembourg | Eurogroup | â¬95.00 |
| Nov 2005 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬175.84 |
| Total | â¬5,139.61 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2006 for Minister Brian Cowen
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2006 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬175.84 |
| Feb 2006 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬140.67 |
| Mar 2006 | Brussels | European Council | â¬140.67 |
| Mar 2006 | Australia/Sydney Canberra Brisbane | St. Patrick's Day Programme | â¬1,893.00 |
| Apr 2006 | Luxembourg | Informal ECOFIN and ASEM Finance Ministers Meeting | ⬠281.67 |
| May 2006 | Brussels | ECOFIN | ⬠152.67 |
| Jun 2006 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | ⬠237.50 |
| Jul 2006 | Brussels | ECOFIN | ⬠305.34 |
| Sep 2006 | Finland Helsinki | Informal ECOFIN | ⬠289.94 |
| Sep 2006 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | â¬237.50 |
| Nov 2006 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬152.67 |
| Nov 2006 | Brussels | Eurogroup | â¬38.17 |
| Total | â¬4,045.64 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2007 for Minister Brian Cowen
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2007 | Slovenia | Euro Ceremony | â¬124.26 |
| Jan 2007 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬190.84 |
| Feb 2007 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬190.84 |
| Mar 2007 | Brussels | Eurogroup | â¬152.67 |
| Mar 2007 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬190.84 |
| Mar 2007 | USA -Chicago | St. Patrick's Day Programme | â¬1577.99 |
| Apr 2007 | Germany-Berlin | Informal ECOFIN | â¬266.66 |
| Jul 2007 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬194.16 |
| Sep 2007 | Portugal-Oporto | Informal ECOFIN | ⬠268.00 |
| Oct 2007 | Luxembourg | Eurogroup | â¬47.50 |
| Nov 2007 | Brussels | Eurogroup | â¬38.83 |
| Total | â¬3,242.59 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2008 for Tánaiste Brian Cowen
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2008 | Malta-Valletta | Adoption of Euro Currency Malta | â¬165.39 |
| Jan 2008 | Cyprus -Nicosia | Adoption of Euro Currency Cyprus | â¬284.77 |
| Jan 2008 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬194.16 |
| Feb 2008 | Brussels | ECOFIN | ⬠194.16 |
| Mar 2008 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬155.33 |
| Mar 2008 | Malaysia-Vietnam | St. Patrick's Day Programme | â¬1,108.44 |
| Total | â¬2,102.25 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2008 for Minister Brian Lenihan
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| May 2008 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬194.16 |
| Jun 2008 | Frankfurt- Luxembourg | ECOFIN & European Central Bank Event | ⬠336.00 |
| Jul 2008 | Brussels | Eurogroup | ⬠77.67 |
| Sep 2008 | France | Informal ECOFIN | ⬠240.00 |
| Oct 2008 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN | â¬190.00 |
| Oct 2008 | Brussels | European Council | â¬155.33 |
| Nov 2008 | Brussels | ECOFIN | â¬155.33 |
| Dec 2008 | Brussels | Eurogroup | â¬77.67 |
| Total | â¬1,426.16 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2003 for Minister of State Tom Parlon
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Oct 2003 | Italy/ Rome | Informal Regional Meeting on Cohesion Policy | â¬223.56 |
| Nov 2003 | Brussels | Budget Council | â¬131.45 |
| Total | â¬355.01 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2004 for Minister of State Tom Parlon
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jan 2004 | Brussels | Keynote address at the 2nd Annual European Financial Services Conference | â¬131.45 |
| Apr 2004 | Brussels | Bi-lateral meeting re agreement with San Marino On Taxation on Income | â¬37.67 |
| May 2004 | Paris-France | OECD meeting | â¬120.34 |
| May 2004 | Brussels | Address to Third European Forum | â¬75.33 |
| Jul 2004 | Brussels | EU Budget Council | â¬131.45 |
| Jul 2004 | Sligo | Showcases in Public Service Excellence | â¬125.99 |
| Nov 2004 | Brussels | EU Budget Council | â¬225.24 |
| Nov 2004 | The Hague | Ministerial Substantive Troika | â¬52.15 |
| Total | â¬899.62 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2005 for Minister of State Tom Parlon
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Apr 2005 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN Meeting | â¬111.21 |
| May 2005 | Paris | OECD Ministerial Meeting | â¬97.34 |
| May 2005 | Luxembourg | Informal Ministerial Meeting on Regional Policy in Luxembourg | â¬42.15 |
| Jun 2005 | Luxembourg | Informal Ministerial Meeting on Public Services | â¬118.75 |
| Oct 2005 | Brussels | Ministerial meeting on Structural and Cohesion funds | â¬35.16 |
| Nov 2005 | Brussels | EU Budget Council meeting | â¬123.08 |
| Total | â¬527.69 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2006 for Minister of State Tom Parlon
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| May 2006 | Paris | OECD meeting | â¬122.09 |
| Nov 2006 | Brussels | EU Budget Council | â¬76.33 |
| Dec 2006 | Paris | Attend Climate Change conference | â¬97.33 |
| Total | â¬295.75 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2008 for Minister of State Noel Ahern
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Apr 2008 | Belfast | Peace 3 Conference Belfast | â¬48.32 |
| Total | â¬48.32 |
Travel and Subsistence claims for 2008 for Minister of State Dr Martin Mansergh
| Month of travel | Destination | Type of Meeting attended | Amount Claimed |
| Jun 2008 | Korea South Jeju Island | Asem Meeting | â¬250.93 |
| Jun 2008 | Prague | EURO Conference | â¬177.71 |
| Jun 2008 | Paris | OECD Meeting | â¬146.00 |
| Jul 2008 | Brussels | Ecofin Meeting | â¬135.91 |
| Oct 2008 | Paris | Banking and Fraud Conference in Paris | â¬188.33 |
| Nov 2008 | Derry | Bankers Association Dinner in Derry | â¬116.95 |
| Total | â¬1,015.83 |
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