The Government has no plans to review the expenses of TDs and senators despite the controversy stirred by the publication of non-salary payments to Oireachtas members from the Exchequer.
It is likely in future that the expenses of Oireachtas members will be published quarterly to shift attention from the high figures.
A Department of Finance spokeswoman said yesterday there were no plans to review the expenses. However, the issue is to be raised at the next meeting of the Dail Committee on Broadcasting and Parliamentary Information.
The committee chairman, the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Seamus Brennan, confirmed last night that the matter would be on the agenda.
"As far as I am concerned information about expenses should be given out regularly. TDs have nothing to hide. These are expenses that members are legitimately entitled to and that have been legitimately incurred."
Mr Brennan said many backbenchers were in favour of the regular publication of their expenses. "This is something that we will be discussing at the committee. We want to see if there is a better way of presenting the figures to the public on a regular basis."
The figures released at the weekend showed that £5.4 million in expenses were paid to the 225 TDs and senators between April 1998 and April 1999. The money is largely unvouched and is not subject to tax.
Meanwhile, candidates in the June local elections must furnish details of donations and election expenses to their relevant local authorities by Thursday. This is the first time that councillors have been obliged to make such declarations under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999.
Any councillor who does not comply will be suspended from the council for up to seven days. If after seven days the statement is still not furnished, the elected member will be disqualified from membership of any local authority until the next election.
Unsuccessful candidates who fail to comply with the act will also be disqualified from membership of a local authority, including co-option, until the next election. The person's name will also be published in the local newspaper.
Where a political party (national agent of designated person) fails to furnish a statement, it is open to a fine of up to £1,500.
Where an elected member or unsuccessful candidate furnishes a false statement, he or she faces a fine of up to £50 or imprisonment for up to three months.
Councillors or candidates must also declare details of all election costs including advertisements, opinion polls, postage, telephone and fax, transport including fuel, hire of premises and staff costs. They must also give details of donations exceeding £500 from an individual.