Flynn cancels Independent allowance

Deputy Flynn cancels Independent allowance


Áine Ryan

LESS than three days after Deputy Beverley Flynn told The Mayo News she believed ‘it was unlikely’ that Taoiseach Brian Cowen would rescind the law regarding allowances for Independent TDs, she told Mid-West Radio she would give up her allowance of €41,152 a year. However, she did stress the capitulation was based on assurances by the Taoiseach that the regulations would be altered to take account of changes in a TD’s status. 
That was Wednesday last, the same day as Government decided to alter the basis on which special allowances are paid to Independent TDs. The decision followed a media storm over the revelation, 12 days earlier by The Irish Examiner, that Deputy Flynn was still in receipt of the payment, despite having been readmitted to Fianna Fáil some months ago.
Initially, Deputy Flynn argued that since she was legally entitled to the payment, she intended to hold on to it. She had also contended that after her expulsion from Fianna Fáil in 2004, she was at the loss of party support and was not in receipt of the allowance, due to its regulations which are based on a deputy’s status at the beginning of a term.
Reportedly, the Taoiseach initially made contact with Deputy Flynn after being questioned about the issue on RTÉ Radio’s This Week on Sunday, January 4 last. According to senior political sources the Taoiseach made clear to Deputy Flynn that the situation was not sustainable and told her: “I want to review this and the way it is presented – I want to take a look at this.”
After speaking to the Taoiseach on Tuesday night, Deputy Flynn said on local radio the following day: “When I mentioned this issue to the Taoiseach, I said obviously I was very anxious and happy that the regulations would be changed to reflect the correct status of every TD in the Dáil, and the Taoiseach has given me to believe that that actually will happen, and in the light of that indication from the Taoiseach it is my intention to immediately write to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to rescind the payment on my own behalf.”
Deputy Beverley Flynn declined to comment further on the matter to The Mayo News yesterday. However, she has said she was upset by the media frenzy around the issue and is glad the whole debacle is over.