200 Words

While I wait for Sinn Féin TDs and senators to get back to me, and consider my response to SIPO’s recent communications, a little something to tide you over if you’ve been following the “average wage” saga.

Here’s a Sinn Féin press release about MPs’ expenses: “Sinn Féin MPs, like all party members who are paid a wage, receive exactly the same average industrial wage which is £356 per week, net.”

[Note the release is over two years old, so the figure of £356 may have changed in the meantime.]

And on a similar note, from Mary Lou McDonald: “I, like all Sinn Fein elected representatives and workers, am paid the average industrial wage from my salary.”

Now here’s a comment posted in response to an article I wrote here: “When I was last getting a SF salary (about 5 years ago) the wage all got was circa £21k. I doubt it has changed much. It was before tax.”

Five years ago, in 2006, the average wage was €29910. [Source: CSO].

Assuming the comment is accurate, either Sinn Féin’s numbers were a bit off for the average wage in 2006, or some average wages were more equal than others.

During the lengthy wait between my first questions to Sinn Féin about the average wage and their reply, I wrote to SIPO.

I asked the Standards Commission to look into inconsistencies between Sinn Féin statements and reporting requirements.

“If a TD decides to spend part or all of his/her salary on the provision of constituency offices or employing staff for whatever reason, it is not a matter for the Standards Commission,” SIPO replied. “However, if a TD gives/donates… to a political party … the recipient is obliged to disclose that donation.”

So if a TD employs someone, it’s legal, but if the party employs the same worker, it has to be declared.

That seems clear enough.

Except Martin McGuinness said recently of his salary “I don’t see it. It goes straight into a Sinn Fein account.”

Given uniform statements from Sinn Féin members, it’s probable all TD salaries go “straight into a Sinn Féin account.”

And given how quickly SIPO replied to my letter, I doubt they contacted any TD to ask how many constituency workers they personally employed.

I’m still mulling my response to SIPO, but on the facts to date, it strikes me as irrational, unreasonable and perverse.

SIPO on Sinn Féin statements regarding average wage and donations

On Saturday, Sinn Féin senator David Cullinane was asked where any money above the €530 per week allowance he received from the party went. He replied “into the local constituency employing people who work for the party.”

When I asked the senator David Cullinane where the legislation governing political donations made a distinction between money donated to Sinn Féin headquarters, which has to be declared to SIPO, the Standards in Public Office Commission, and money donated to the party at a constituency level, his answer was “you can spend your money on your constituency office. You are limited in what you can donate directly to a party. Difference.”

Sinn Fein regularly point to their “average wage” commitment. Cullinane’s arrangement is not unique, it is policy followed by all its TDs and senators.

The Electoral Act, 1997, section 22, includes in the definition of a party “a body or association which forms part of such political party, is established by or under the constitution of the political party, or is effectively controlled by the political party or the officers thereof, or has functions conferred on it by or under the constitution of the party. ”

“Donation” means any contribution given for political purposes by any person, whether or not a member of a political party, to a political party, a member of either House of the Oireachtas, a representative in the European Parliament or a candidate at a Dáil, Seanad or European election… [Section 22(2)(a)]

In other words, no difference.