On Monday 18 September, I addressed some questions to Sinn Féin about their “average industrial wage” claims, and the amounts their TDs donated to their party. In the three weeks since then, I’ve posted several times on the issue, and Sinn Féin’s compliance with SIPO regulations. This evening, I received the reply below from the Sinn Féin press office. It’s been a long week, so I’ll post again on the detail in the answers below, but I’m uploading it now rather than keeping anyone in suspense. Questions appear in bold, answers in plain type.
Sinn Féin presidential candidate Martin McGuinness, who says he will only take an
In light of the declaration yesterday by Martin McGuinness about drawing the average industrial wage if elected as President, I’ve been looking at the statements by several Sinn Féin TDs to do the same thing, and would like the answers to some questions.
How does Sinn Féin calculate the “average wage?” Depending on where I look on the Central Statistics Office website, there seem to be several possible “average wage”/average income measures to choose from.
We are paid approximately €540 net per week. It is calculated using the following method:
http://www.cso.ie/quicktables/GetQuickTables.aspx?FileName=EHQ03.asp&TableName=Earnings+and+Labour+Costs&StatisticalProduct=DB_EH
Are TDs and senators paid the average wage before or after tax? That is, if for example the “average wage” is €10,000, does a TD or senator receive €10,000, or a lesser sum reflecting what their after-tax income would be if they were paid a gross sum of €10,000?
They are paid the after tax figure, see above
Members of the Oireachtas are entitled to claim expenses under various headings. Are Sinn Féin members drawing down these expenses? If so, are these monies also given away, or does the member get the use of them to cover expenses? For example, are TDs paying for their own accommodation in Dublin, phone bills and mileage, or is this paid out of the expenses they are claiming?
Sinn Féin TD’s claim vouched expenses. They have to be spent on the items claimed for.
Finally, my understanding from questions to Sinn Féin in the past is that monies above the average wage are donated to the party. However, when I contacted SIPO this morning, they were unable to give details of such donations.
Some TD’s donate to the party the allowable amount. The balance is spent on enhancing their constituency services
Could you therefore please provide me with details of each TD and senator’s donations of monies above the “average industrial wage”, listing the amounts and recipients in each case.
See above
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Gerard Cunningham (@faduda) (@faduda)
October 7, 2011 at 8:40 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
New blog post: Sinn Féin replies – Some answers to questions about Sinn Féin, SIPO and the average wage http://t.co/6fWoxBuC
Julian West
October 7, 2011 at 8:50 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
“enhancing their constituency services” seems to be the area of interest.
steve white (@lostexpectation) (@lostexpectation)
October 9, 2011 at 10:18 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Sinn Féin replies to @faduda http://t.co/XNh5wmid enhancing your constituency services is donating to political party isn’t it? #aras11
steve white
October 9, 2011 at 10:19 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
surely martin mcguinness allegedly draws the northern irish average industrial wage?
Irrational, unreasonable and perverse » 200 Words
October 15, 2011 at 2:02 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
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