Complaint filed with SIPO over Limerick TD's expense claims

A complaint has been filed with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) regarding expense claims made by Limerick TD Richard O'Donoghue.

The complaint alleges that Mr O'Donoghue claimed expenses he was not entitled to under the Parliamentary Activities Allowance.

This allowance allows Independent TDs to claim for policy formulation, research and training, and specialist advice on legislative proposals or parliamentary initiatives.

SIPO, which oversees compliance with ethics legislation by elected politicians, received the complaint concerning Mr O'Donoghue earlier this month.

The complaint stated that some of the expenses claimed by Mr O'Donoghue under this allowance were inconsistent with the expense headings that the allowance provides for.

It noted that in expenditure statements sent on behalf of Mr O'Donoghue to SIPO for 2021, 2022 and 2023, under the heading "Expenditure on the provision of technical or specialist advice likely to be required in connection with legislative proposals or potential parliamentary initiatives", Mr O'Donoghue claimed for "signage & calendars".

Mr O'Donoghue received €5,532 for signage and calendars from 2021-2023 under this allowance.

The complaint queried whether expenditure on signage and calendars would be consistent with spending on specialist advice concerning legislative and parliamentary activities.

It also stated that some of the expenditure items claimed would be better described as "self-promotion" rather than by the expense headings.

Allowance

Mr O'Donoghue, elected as an Independent TD in 2020, founded the new political party Independent Ireland in November 2023, along with other rural TDs.

Under the Parliamentary Activities Allowance, Independent TDs can claim up to €37,037 annually, with unclaimed amounts carried over to the following year.

They must submit an expenditure statement to SIPO and an accompanying report from a public auditor, though they are not required to submit receipts.

RTÉ Investigates reviewed Mr O'Donoghue's expenditure statements and various other guidance documents issued by the Commission and the Oireachtas.

The statements show that from 2021 to 2023, under the heading "Research and Training", he claimed €2,715 for the Limerick Leader newspaper, €2,685 for the Limerick Post, and €4,000 for a Cork local paper, Vale Star.

Additionally, in 2022, Mr O'Donoghue claimed €407 for expenses linked to a signage business under the heading "Research and Training."

Public Representation

TDs are also entitled to allowances under another scheme, the Public Representation Allowance, which relates to various office expenses and is worth up to €20,350 per year.

Mr O'Donoghue has claimed his full yearly entitlement under this allowance, which does not require TDs to submit receipts, although receipts must be retained for potential audits.

The Oireachtas guidelines for this allowance specify that TDs can claim expenses for signage on their constituency offices and vehicles.

They can also claim for the costs of advertising relating to the performance of their duties as Oireachtas members.

"Predominantly, 'advertising costs' relate to the placement or publication of an advertisement in a chosen medium," the guidelines state, adding that the primary purpose of the advertisement should be to indicate the member's name, contact details, clinic times, and so on.

Printing

Separately, TDs are entitled to use the in-house Oireachtas printing facility in connection with their parliamentary duties.

Guidance on the appropriate use of this facility describes calendars as one of the "regularly requested" items which will be printed.

Usage of this printing facility is free for TDs and is entirely separate from the two allowance schemes.

According to records released under Freedom of Information, Mr O'Donoghue had 10,000 calendars printed by the Oireachtas printing facility in November 2022, costing the Oireachtas €535.

'SIPO will contact me if necessary'

RTÉ Investigates sent Mr O'Donoghue several questions about his expenses, including how spending on "signage and calendars" could be considered technical or specialist advice related to legislation or parliamentary activities.

It also asked why signage claimed under the Parliamentary Activities Allowance was not claimed under the Public Representation Allowance, given that guidance on the latter refers explicitly to claiming for constituency and vehicle signage.

RTÉ Investigates also asked Mr O'Donoghue why he claimed expenses for calendars despite being entitled to use the Oireachtas printing facilities for free.

He did not respond to those specific queries. However, the Limerick TD stated that SIPO had not contacted him about the complaint.

"Based on your correspondence, I contacted SIPO myself, and they advised that they will contact me directly, if necessary," Mr O'Donoghue added.

"I have contacted SIPO and have stated your concerns regarding your questions raised. I am not refusing to answer your questions, but as stated I have not been contacted by SIPO."

In a statement, SIPO told RTÉ Investigates: "Due to the nature of SIPO's role as an impartial oversight body, and in order to be fair to all parties involved, we would not be able to provide any comment regarding any individual cases of compliance."