It's annual game that we play. The press requests and gets the expenses report. They publish the figures, which to any layman sound outrageous. The politicians go through the normal routine of playing the game, going on Joe Duffy or whatever. Then all is forgotten and they get on with the serious business of cashing in.
The Wicklow Times piece reports that of the Wicklow TD's FF's Joe Jabob topped the list with €64K in expenses. FG's Billy Timmins was close behind. The figures aren't really that important, but what struck me was this comment from Labour's Liz McManus:
I unfortunately don't determine these things. You put yourself up for the job and you accept the terms.Whoa!! Whoa! Whoa. Hold on there deputy McManus. You're an elected representative in the national government. Are you saying that nobody in the government has the power to change this situation? I would imagine that the Dáil could pass legislation changing this situation.
I know a lot of people out here who commute to Dublin daily. We live almost exactly 15 miles from Leinster House. Why should TD's who live in this region get €61.63 per day as travel expenses? (Or €139.67 if they live more than 15 miles away?) Nobody around here that I know gets anywhere near that amount. In fact, they get to pay exorbitant amounts in fuel and rail/bus costs without recompense.
Our elected officials should expect no more.
{By the way, although Liz McManus's politics would be a long way removed from my own, she was easily the smartest and most gracious politician who called to my door during the last general election.}
