TD defends buying canvassers’ drinks
A FORMER minister has defended his use of a parliamentary allowance to pay for refreshments for election canvassers.
Independent TD Seán Canney, who was a junior minister until last month, spent almost €1,300 under the Parliamentary Activities Allowance on two gatherings of canvassers last year.
The allowance is available to independent senators and TDs for use on items arising from their parliamentary activities, such as technical or specialist advice, research and training, and polling or attitude sampling.
Entertainment is an allowable category of expense, but the money cannot be used to pay for or recoup costs associated with election campaigning.
Mr Canney has defended the expenditure and said the allowance was not spent on ‘election or poll expenses’.
The Galway East TD’s claim a total of €4,489 on food and drink bills at functions attended by more than 750 people in 2016 was higher than any other. This included €793.50 on a ‘canvassers meeting and meal’, which was attended by 50 people; and €500 for a ‘canvassers briefing’ and office opening in Co Galway, which was attended by 150 guests.
Mr Canney said: ‘It is a matter of record that the election took place in February 2016 and the events queried happened later.’
‘My canvassers/supporters were briefed on the Programme for Government and the services available in my constituency office, which I had opened. The canvassers/supporters meeting was held to brief my supporters on issues relating to flooding and budgetary matters,” he added.
A Standards in Public Office Commission spokesman said that the watchdog does not comment on individual compliance matters.