Gormley Expenses 'Among the Lowest'

Green Party leader John Gormley has rebutted criticism of his expenses, claiming his are among the lowest of all TDs in Dáil Eireann.

The Minister for the Environment's comments come in response to an article in The Irish Times this week concerning a complaint made by one of Mr Gormley's constituents about Mr Gormley’s expenses, which amounted to a total of €200,000 over 12 years.

The Oireachtas, however, turned down a request for an investigation from constituent James Casey on the grounds that Mr Gormley had observed all legal requirements.

Speaking on this morning's RTÉ Radio’s Today programme Mr Gormley dismissed the allegations over his expenses, saying they are substantially lower than those of other Deputies in his constituency.

"Look at my expenses. Compare my expenses to those of my constituency colleagues. It averages out at around €18,000 per annum. That is substantially lower than anybody else," he said.

Last year, the total expenses paid to the other three Deputies in Dublin South East averaged €23,852.

Mr Gormley also said it was not unusual for him to work on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve in Leinster House. He claimed 'turning-up' expenses for both dates in 1997.

The accusations against the Green Party leader come only days after Senator Ivor Callely resigned from Fianna Fáil after a party disciplinary committee found him guilty of "conduct unbecoming", after an investigation into his mobile phone expenses claims.

Various incarnations of Mr Callely's expense claims had been brought to the public's attention several times in recent years, beginning with excessive travel expenses before the recent revelations over mobile telephony claims worth €3,000, which were claimed using headed letters dated years after the company ceased trading.

Fianna Fáil have issued statement saying the senator’s resignation from the organisation with immediate effect had been accepted.

(DW/BMcC)