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Use existing swipe system for attendance allowance says Gogarty

February 11 2010

Green Party TD for Dublin Mid West Paul Gogarty TD has welcomed the new vouched attendance-based expenses system TDs and Senators. However he has urged the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to use the existing swipe system introduced on a pilot scheme for staff working in Leinster House rather than introduce an entirely new system or have representatives sign in.

Deputy Gogarty said: “I first called for a swipe card system and vouched expenses in 2002. When I saw machines being introduced into Leinster House last year I thought that at long last, members would have to verify their attendance when claiming expenses. But unfortunately this turned out to be a pilot system for staff working in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

“Now that existing machines are already in place it would be a seamless operation to issue swipe cards for TDs for claiming daily attendance allowances. For years TDs have been claiming expenses based on trust, but because of other factors that trust has broken down. Electronic verification would help to increase public confidence that the system is working properly,” said Deputy Gogarty.

The Green TD added that he saw no merit in allowing up to €15,000 of expenses to be unvouched. “Every cent should be vouched. We need to send out the right signals to the public that we are accountable for any expense we incur.”

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