Senior Dáil official urges independent control of allowances
A senior Leinster House official, Kieran Coughlan, is recommending that an independent body takes over control of setting political allowances.
The Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service made the comments at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin currently sets the rates and scope of allowances for TDs and Senators.
Mr Coughlan is calling for an external group, such as the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, to be given the task.
He said: "It is probably better all round to follow the practices of other parliaments who go for an external body to review it.
"It does suffer from the fact that it seems to be drawn up, with all due respects to the minister, within the political atmosphere or ballpark anyway."
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