SF's Doherty 'paid staff out of travel expenses'
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty has said that he will pay back any money he owes if he has broken Oireachtas rules on expenses.
It follows a report in today's Irish Independent which claims that Deputy Doherty diverted unspent expenses towards hiring part-time workers for the party.
The reports said that the Sinn Féin finance spokesman "put €8,000 worth of unspent travel and accommodation expenses towards hiring part-time party workers".
Under rules introduced two years ago such expenses must be returned to the Oireachtas if not used for travel.
Deputy Doherty however said he was not aware that was the case.
"That hasn't been my understanding, but I understand that that is the claim being made in the paper," he said this morning.
"If that is the case, and if I am in breach in any way, shape or form of any rules or regulations then no problem whatsover, I will pay that money back.
"My understanding is that I was completely abiding by the rules.
"If I am not allowed to use the surplus of that money to take somebody off the dole, then I will deal with that."
