Leinster House Confirms Travels Expenses Were Misused

It has been confirmed that three left-wing TDs should not have used their taxpayer-funded travel expenses to go around the country canvassing against the €100 household charge.

The Leinster House authorities said they had never intended TDs to claim travel expenses for attending events outside their constituencies.

But it remains unclear if they would have to repay the travel expenses, as the authorities are waiting for legal advice before making a definitive ruling.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, his colleague Clare Daly and United Left Alliance TD Joan Collins all had maintained they were entitled to use their travel expenses to attend anti-household charge rallies around the country.

Mr Higgins and Ms Daly had insisted they were the victims of a "smear campaign" and that their travel expense claims were entirely legitimate.

But they were forced to backtrack after the Oireachtas Commission, which is in charge of Leinster House, said that travel expenses were designed for journeys to the Dail, as well as travel around the TD's constituency.

They and Ms Collins are now offering to repay the money; if the legal advice rules that they should.

(H)