Donie Cassidy comes in tops on expenses list

Seanad expenses figures published in the national media last weekend are misleading, and do not represent what a senator puts into his or her pocket, Fianna Fáil's Senator Donie Cassidy has said this week, reacting to the release of figures at the weekend which showed him as the top recipient of expenses and allowances from the state's upper chamber.The figures revealed that the Castlepollard claimed €86,915 in expenses and allowances (including €21,525 of an allowance as Leader of Seanad Éireann), on top of a basic salary of €70,134.He was followed closely by Senator Camillus Glynn (FF) on a combined expenses/allowances figure of €68,686 (on top of an approximate basic salary of €69,000, which is subject to an income levy), while Athlone's Senator Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael) claimed €49,700 in expenses on top of her basic salary of c. €65,000.But speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Senator Cassidy claimed that the expenses were "put down in the papers as if I'm putting it all into my pocket".He said that it was no surprise that his expenses would be at the top of the list, due to the fact that he is the Leader of the Seanad, and spends more time in the lower house. "Half of what I earn goes on tax, more of it on telephone bills," he explained."The figures are very misleading. They have my salary as Leader of the Seanad included, and most of that goes on tax."He referred to recently published expenses for top Dáil expenses claimant Noel Treacy."Everyone is given the impression that Noel Treacy pocketed all those expenses, but it's not true. The figures included an allowance for his secretary, and he doesn't get a penny of that."Senator Cassidy called on the Oireachtas to publish expenses details on a monthly basis, explaining that an annual review of expenses misleads the public about where the money goes. "This is important, especially at a time when many people out there are unemployed," he said.Senator Camillus Glynn described the figures published last weekend as "inflated and inaccurate", stating that he claims only what he is entitled to claim in a calendar year. The Mullingar man was fourth on a list of 62 senators, in order of expenses and allowances received.Meanwhile, Athlone's Senator Nicky McFadden said that most of her expenses go on secretarial allowances, office costs and travel."I can't wait until a vouched expenses system is introduced," she said. "Only then will we have a system that is truly transparent, and one where people can see what the money has been spent on."