An independent Senator has called for the restoration of pre-crash allowances for members of the Oireachtas. 

As Ireland slid into a deep recession in the 2000s, pay for staff in the public sector was cut by the Public Interest Act (FEMPI). 

The legislation also put an end to extra payments to TDs and Senators for long service. 

16 years after the passage of FEMPI, Senator Gerard Craughwell explained why he is now campaigning for the return of the long service allowance. 

“What I called for was exactly what has been agreed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Public Services Committee,” he told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“Where they have agreed to the final unwinding of FEMPI; the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest was a savage series of cuts, right across the public service. 

“They have been unwound, thankfully, but fairness requires that when the Minister announces that he’s unwinding FEMPI, he unwinds for all - not just a selected group. 

“He has missed one group and that is members of the Oireachtas.” 

Leinster House. Picture by: Alamy.com.

In 2008, TDs received a salary of between €100,191 and €106,582, depending on their length of service. 

Senators were paid between €70,134 and €74,608 annually. 

By 2013, pay for all TDs had been cut to €87,258 and for Senators it had been reduced to €65,000. 

Oireachtas members have been given several increases since then and TDs who are not Ministers are paid €117,133, while Senators receive €82,018. 

They are, Senator Craughwell conceeded, a “very well paid” group of individuals. 

“The salary side does not need adjustment of any sort,” he said. 

“The salary [with regard to FEMPI] has been unwound as it can be and I don’t want any increase in salary for politicians. 

“I merely want the final part of FEMPI restored, which is the incremental credit. 

“There are only two increments involved, with a maximum payout of €6,000 a year for a TD and possibly about €4,000 for a Senator when you get both increments.” 

Members of thee 34th Dail. Picture by: RollingNews.ie via Oireachtas Press Office.

Senator Craughwell continued that the new allowance would apply to “very few”. 

“At the rate people are falling in the political world these days, it’s rather strange to think sitting here I’m one of the longest serving members of the Seanad having entered in 2014,” he said. 

“So, life in politics is a very tough life now and people don’t last long, unfortunately.” 

There are currently 174 members of Dáil Éireann and a further 20 Senators.

Main image: Gerard Craughwell. Picture by: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland.