On Tuesday last, Fianna Fail’s environment spokesperson Niall Collins received written replies to questions he tabled in the Dail. Deputy Collins asked the same question of each of our 15 ministers – “the amount of expenses claimed on a monthly basis since March 2011 by all Ministers attached to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter” He doesn’t appear to have received a response from Minister for Health James Reilly but the details of the other fourteen are here – the information is derived from the 14 individual replies that Deputy Collins received (click to ENLARGE):
He was given a variety of answers, though all except Minister Varadkar (see above), provided figures. It seems that the Ministers decided to interpret the question in their own narrow way, and in general limited the scope of their replies to expenses incurred for mileage and for accommodation. Remember that three members of the Cabinet have retained a ministerial Mercedes and drivers – An Taoiseach, An Tanaiste and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. Other Ministers use their own cars though each is provided with two drivers at the taxpayers’ expense. When they use their own cars, they are entitled to claim a mileage. These are the current rates.
Incredibly Minister of State for Small Business, John Perry has claimed €31,867 mileage allowance in the past 12 months. With the total cost of owning and running an average car in Ireland put at just over €11,000 by the AA, it is difficult to see how Minister Perry is not making a handsome profit on his mileage. Even though Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn’s mileage costs have come in for some scrutiny by the Irish Mail on Sunday/Daily Mail – and, interestingly, no other newspaper – it is his Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon, who appears to occupy 2nd place in the mileage stakes with €22,763 claimed for mileage and accommodation. Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring isn’t much better having claimed €22,691 for mileage in the 10 month to January 2012 – his mileage is set out here and here and includes an incredible €4,618.17 claimed for the month of January 2012 alone!
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter was ambiguous with his responses, because he provided two – one in which he said that no expenses had been claimed by him or his two ministers of state, and one in which he sets out some expenses which included a claim for €100 for travel vaccinations and €707.77 for hotel expenses for a trip to the Lebanon in October 2011 to visit with Irish UN troops. His ministerial “accomplishments” for the year show that he spent between 14-16th October, 2011 in the Lebanon, or two nights presumably, at a shade over €350 a night for his hotel costs. At least Alan doesn’t have to worry about the €100 household charge, he claimed €100 for travel vaccinations which presumably immunises him for personal travel also, perhaps to see his rental property in Florida. “Get a life!” indeed Alan!
Unwittingly perhaps, Minister Varadkar’s unhelpful reply – it was “unhelpful” because it is quite difficult to get at the information on the Minister’s Departmental website – eventually revealed more detail than was provided in the other ministerial responses. Leo managed to spend €2,249.47 on three return economy flights from Dublin to Luxembourg in October 2011 for himself, his private secretary and his Department’s Secretary General. That’s €750 per return flight. The purpose of the travel was to attend a EU Transport Council event which presumably wasn’t last minute which makes €750 for a return economy flight between Dublin and Luxembourg look extortionate when a quick online search suggests an economy price for a return ticket would be under €250. Minister Varadkar provides a breakdown of the €7k of costs of his trip toIndia for 2011 St Patrick’s Day which includes €240 for gifts and there’s the €350 per room per person – Leo brought his private secretary and they needed two rooms, though they did stay one night only at the residence of the Irish ambassador.
Remember the above expenses will exclude a whole raft of allowances and benefits which the ministers claim and which are set out in some detail here. It also excludes any income provided by their own political parties which is claimed from the taxpayer – you’ll find some general details here. And of course it excludes salaries and additional post payments, set out here.
NAMA Wine Lake 
Who the feck is John Perry? And why the feck does he need almost twice the average industrial monthly wage to drive to work every day? Where’s he from—Tir na nOg?
How come these guys can’t pay their mileage costs out of their own (handsome) salaries? What’s the big problem with that? Maybe they wouldn’t be as quick to swan off to Australia and Chigao for Paddy’s day if they actually had to pay for green champagne out of their own pockets.
Only a few more hours to pay the household charge gents. Give a thought and pay up to help a poor old Junior Minister like John Perry make it though the month.
Brian Hayes is certainly clocking up the miles,for a Dublin South TD.
Get on your bike Brian…OPW is supposed to be supporting this initiative !
“The Cycle-to-Work scheme was launched by the Government in 2009 to encourage the use of bicycles to travel to and from work. The scheme allows for a civil or public service employer to incur the expense of providing an officer with a bicycle and bicycle safety equipment up to a limit of €1,000,….”
http://www.procurement.ie/suppliers/contracts/78
@NWL
Surely you don’t expect a government minister, especially one so full of his own self-importance, to travel in steerage with the plebs. :->
But the point is that he said he was traveling in steerage.
[…] Ministerial Expenses For The Past Year Published – Prepare To Be Outraged! (Nama Wine Lake) […]
It was obvious from the get go that Mr. Perry was going to be going all out to break some records!
I found Varadkar’s mileage in less than 30 seconds.
Do I win an easter egg?
Can you post the link? Tks
We should all be so lucky,who does not aspire to a life like Alan’s,wonder what’s the jucie on taking the family down under for some R and R?
“The minister’s wife and daughter also travelled to Australia and while they attended some events they were not in the Government party.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0321/breaking32.html
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Namawinelake; excellent as usual.
You may not know though, that Cannon has to navigate through a higher number of Roundabouts per square mile, than anyone else. Some of these Roundabouts have to be circumvented, up to forty times, before the desired exit comes into view.
Shatter, is always a special case. His great legal mind, interprets a mile as something much longer, more complicated, and requiring mega gallons of fuel.
Perry, too, is special. A different special to Shatter; a simpler version. Einstein – “if you wish to make something, make it as simple as possible, but not any simpler”.
Ring is familiar with athletes, and not unfamiliar with financial gymnastics.
So put on your Green Jersey, for Gods sake and extend a little latitude for.those that bear the responsibilities of running our fine country – in a way that they know best.
and Reilly’s?????????//
Front of the bus…oh to have such a life…still 11 grand to fly down under…how many Aussie companies are you expecting to justify this!
“Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and his private secretary incurred costs of €11,368 in travelling to Australia and New Zealand.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0403/1224314296561.html
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