22/06/09 - Report on Expenditure of the Party Leaders Allowance (2008)

Part 1 - Introduction

1.1 The Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2001 (the Act) provides for the payment of an annual allowance to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. This allowance is known as the Party Leaders Allowance.

1.2 This report concerns the Statements of Expenditure of the Party Leaders Allowance for the year 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 furnished to the Standards Commission by the parliamentary leaders of the six political parties qualified to receive the allowance in 2008.

1.3 A qualifying party is defined in the Act as a political party, registered in the Register of Political Parties, which contested the last preceding general election or any subsequent bye-elections and which had at least one member elected to Dáil Éireann or elected or nominated to Seanad Éireann. Following the general election of 2007, the parliamentary leaders of six political parties are qualified to receive the allowance.

1.4 The allowance is calculated for each parliamentary leader by reference to the number of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann or elected or nominated to Seanad Éireann. If a qualifying party forms part of the Government, then the combined allowances in respect of its members of the Dáil only is reduced by one-third.This reduction applied to the allowance received in 2008 by Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats.

1.5 The Standards Commission has a supervisory role in relation to expenditure of the allowance. It must receive and consider statements of expenditure of the allowance and to consult, if necessary, with the parliamentary party leaders on matters contained in their statements. The Standards Commission must furnish a report to the Minister for Finance on the statements received by it and to lay a copy of its report before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It must also facilitate the inspection and copying of the statements furnished to it.

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