Seanad Éireann
New senators are now paid €65,621 per year and no longer benefit from long-service increments, which have been abolished by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
However, long-serving senators who were already on increments, prior to Mr Lenihan’s changes, have retained same, meaning they earn €67,634 if they have served between seven and 10 years and €69,647, if they have served more than 10 years.
This gravy train does not end here my friends, well that is according to today’s Sunday Independent, which shows ten senators receiving nearly €500,000 in expenses during the 12-month period Nov.1st 2009 to Nov.1st, 2010.
Tipperary’s three serving members of Seanad Éireann received expenses totalling over €126,800, added to their existing salaries. Tipperary Labour Senator Phil Prendergast ranked 11th highest for expenses claimed of €45,649, while next in line of our county’s Senators was Fianna Fail’s Labhras O’Murchu, coming in at 23rd position with €41,423. His party colleague John Hanafin claimed €39,732, ranking him a mere 32nd highest of the total 61 Senators listed.
First prize went to Newross Co.Wexford’s Fianna Fáil senator Jim Walsh, who received €62,196 and who on the 7th of July 2010, resigned the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party whip, along with Tipperary’s Labhrás Ó Murchú and John Hanafin, in protest at the Civil Partnership bill. Senator Walsh has repeatedly called for a freedom of conscience amendment to the legislation which would by-pass equality legislation, allowing people a religious exemption in providing goods and services to gay couples. In November 2009, Walsh claimed that women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people.
Now don’t we get real value for our money. By the way, has anyone actually seen a Tipperary Senator in recent times?
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