Sir, – It is appalling that a member of the Oireachtas was allocated €16,000 for expenses they never incurred (“FF Senator paid €16,700 in travel expenses while sick at home for eight months”, News, September 11th).
Members of the Seanad are paid €83,000 a year, which is more than many people in Ireland. They receive reimbursement for expenses for travelling to and from work, and for any overnight accommodation expenses incurred.
Senator Imelda Goldsboro has said she was working in “the constituency” in Tipperary. Her party has stated that “she is more determined than ever to get back to Leinster House and fight for the people of Tipperary”. Both responses suggest neither she nor her party understand her job.
Senators do not represent geographic constituencies. A senator’s job is to represent all of Ireland in the Seanad and attend at Leinster House regularly to do so.
Many people in Ireland are struggling every day to make ends meet, filling their cars with expensive fuel just to get to and from work, and commuting long hours. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS HENEGHAN,
Waterford.