As shocking as the revelations about the expense claims of British MPs are, they are only in the halfpenny place in comparison with the powers that Irish politicians have to extract money from the taxpayer.

As an example, a sitting councillor who is elected to Dail Eireann may appoint a family member to be his secretary, thereby gifting him/her a salary in the region of €40,000 a year.

The newly-elected TD may then also pass on his council seat to the same family member.

A councillor's salary, expenses and allowances package is on average worth €33,000 a year, so this, together with the secretarial salary of €40,000, gives a gross income in the region of €70,000.

This may all be gifted to a family member who has never received a single vote.

The financial package available to our part-time councillors is so valuable that if, at some point in the future, they fail to get re-elected to office, then they have to be compensated for the loss of future earnings.

TDs don't, of course, have to submit vouchers for expenses, we simply give them lump sums for whatever amounts they think they are worth.

Gearoid O Dubhain

Rochestown, Co Cork

