Inquiry call: Paul Murphy of the RISE political grouping says there are not sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse of the ‘fobbing in’ system. PHOTO: Gareth Chaney

TDs can claim up to €34,000 in expenses, but there is no way of independently checking whether they themselves are "clocking in" in order to qualify for the money.

The Ceann Comhairle has been urged to investigate the "fobbing-in" system on foot of the Votegate controversy, amid concerns it could be open to abuse.

In order to qualify for expenses to cover their travel and accommodation costs, TDs have to electronically "clock in" using a fob on machines around the Leinster House complex.

However, the Houses of the Oireachtas confirmed that it does not independently verify that the TDs themselves are "fobbing in".

Deputies must have a minimum of 120 days' attendance built up over the year in order to qualify for the travel and accommodation allowance (TAA), which is calculated based on how far a TD lives from Leinster House.

Dublin TDs typically qualify for an allowance of €9,000 a year, while TDs living more than 360km from the Oireachtas in places like Kerry and west Cork can qualify for just over €34,000 a year.

Deputies must self-certify their expenses at the end of the year and correct any discrepancies, including expenses claimed where they have not met the 120-day minimum attendance rate.

However, RISE socialist TD Paul Murphy has said in the wake of the Votegate controversy - which exposed the practice of TDs voting for colleagues who were elsewhere in the chamber or, in one instance, not in the Dáil at all - the "fobbing in" system needs to be investigated by Oireachtas authorities.

The Dublin South-West deputy raised the issue during the Dáil debate on Votegate on Thursday.

"We all know that there is a system of 'fobbing in', in order to receive the full allowance that is not subject to any camera check and is even more open to abuse than the voting system," Mr Murphy said.

"Is it the case that deputies are getting others to 'fob in' for them to get up to the figure of 120 days? Because if they are willing or able to get others to vote for them when they are not in the chamber, why on earth would they not get somebody to fob in for them in order that they can clock in to receive their expenses?"

In a letter to Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl yesterday, Mr Murphy called for the system to be investigated to establish if there is any wrongdoing occurring.

"No proof is required that the person fobbing is a TD, and some of these machines are located in areas not being observed by any Oireachtas staff," he wrote.

"Unfortunately, if as appears to be the case, some TDs were willing to have other TDs vote for them in the Dáil, it begs the question as to whether there are TDs who have other people fob in for them to increase their recorded attendance.

"It certainly seems clear to me that there are not sufficient safeguards currently in place to prevent that from taking place.

"As you know, if someone in a regular workplace got someone else to fob in for them, they would very likely be fired.

"A review could ascertain whether it is possible to establish whether the fob-in system has been abused in the past, and what measures could be taken to prevent any future abuse."

In response to queries about whether there is an independent audit or verification of the system, an Oireachtas spokeswoman directed the Irish Independent to information abut the TAA system on its website.

The spokeswoman added: "All clocks/terminals are in public areas and the fob used by members is distinct from that used by staff, so it would be fairly obvious if a staff member was using a member's fob."

Irish Independent