Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 159: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will support a matter (details supplied). [22958/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Payments to Political Parties are provided for in the Electoral Act 1997 as amended by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001. Payments are made quarterly in arrears. The following payments have been made in respect of the first quarter of 2010:

The Party Leader's Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2001. The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party.

In accordance with the legislation payments up to end of April 2010 have been made to qualifying political parties as follows:

The legislation also provides that an allowance in connection with his or her parliamentary activities may be paid to a member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, who at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election, was elected as a member of Dáil Éireann or elected/nominated for Seanad Éireann other than as a member of a qualifying party, i.e. an independent member.

To the end of April, sums of €13,717.32 each in respect of four independent Deputies and €7,794.32 each in respect of six independent Senators have issued in accordance with the terms of the legislation.