SOCIALIST PARTY TD Clare Daly was told she had “a brass neck” during exchanges with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin.

Ms Daly, who represents Dublin North, asked Mr Howlin how an unvouched allowance of €1,000 per Dublin TD could be justified in the light of the statement by the Houses of the Oireachtas that travel expenses could only be incurred within constituencies.

“Is he reviewing the fact that political parties receive €1 million aside from the party leader’s allowance that leaders use to travel around the country and develop their parties?”

Mr Howlin replied: “Deputy Clare Daly never ceases to astound me. She has the brass neck to enter the chamber in the teeth of a storm and when she is claiming expenses hand over fist.” Ms Daly’s attitude was “almost like accusing the police for the crime”.

Ms Daly insisted her expenses were substantially less than those of the Minister.