S.I. No. 377/2001 - Oireachtas (Allowances To Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act, 1998 (Allowances and Allocations) Order, 2001

The Government in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 3 , 3A (as inserted by the Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices and Oireachtas Members (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2001 , (No. 33 of 2001)) 4 , 5 and 8 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act, 1998 (No. 5 of 1998), hereby orders as follows:

1.      This Order may be cited as the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act, 1998 (Allowances and Allocations) Order, 2001.

2.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of Dáil Éireann who holds or held the positions of

(a)      Minister of State to the Department of the Taoiseach.

(b)      Minister of State to the Government.

an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position or positions to attend at Government meetings, at the rate of £10,000 per year, in respect of any period beginning on 26 June 1997 and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held the position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of Dáil Éireann who holds or held the position or positions of

(a)      Minister of State to the Department of the Taoiseach.

(b)      Minister of State to the Government.

an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position or positions to attend at Government meetings, at the rate of £10,586 per year, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999, during which the member held the position.

3.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of Dáil Éireann who holds or held a position in Dáil Éireann specified in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 26 June 1997 and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of Dáil Éireann who holds a position in Dáil Éireann specified in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999 during which the member held that position.

4.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of Seanad Éireann who holds a position in Seanad Éireann specified in column (2) of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 6 August 1997 and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of Seanad Éireann who holds a position in Seanad Éireann specified in column (2) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999, during which the member held that position.

5.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 3 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on the date specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite that reference number and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 3 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999, during which the member held that position.

6.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of chairperson of an Oireachtas sub-committee specified in column (2) of Part 4 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on the date specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite that reference number and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of chairperson of an Oireachtas sub-committee specified in column (2) of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999 during which the member held that position.

7.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of vice-chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 5 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on the date specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite that reference number and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of vice-chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 5 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999, during which the member held that position.

8.       (1)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of whip to an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 6 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on the date specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite that reference number and ending with 30 June 1999, during which the member held that position.

(2)      There shall be payable to a member of the Oireachtas who holds the position of whip to an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 6 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an annual allowance in respect of the member's duties as holder of that position, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999, during which the member held that position.

9.       (1)      There shall be allocated to the chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 7 of Schedule 1 to this Order at any reference number, an amount at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number to enable allowances to be paid, at rates determined by that Committee, to -

(a)      members of the Committee, or

(b)      members of any of its sub-committees,

other than those holding the position mentioned in section 3 or 4 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act. 1998 (No. 5 of 1998), in respect of the performance of specific duties assigned to them by the Committee or sub-committee and that relate to its operation in respect of any period beginning on the date specified in column (4) of that Schedule opposite that reference number and ending with 30 June 1999.

(2)      There shall be allocated to the chairperson of an Oireachtas Committee specified in column (2) of Part 7 of Schedule 2 to this Order at any reference number, an annual amount, at the rate per year specified in column (3) of that Schedule opposite that reference number, to enable allowances to be paid, at rates determined by that Committee, to -

(a)      members of the Committee, or

(b)      members of any of its sub-committees,

other than those holding the position mentioned in section 3 or 4 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act, 1998 , in respect of the performance of specific duties assigned to them by the Committee or sub-committee and that relate to its operation, in respect of any period beginning on 1 July 1999.

10.     The Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act, 1998 (Allowances and Allocations) Order, 1999 ( S.I. No. 429 of 1999 ) is revoked.

SCHEDULE 1

PART 1

Article 3

Rates of allowances payable to holders of specified positions in Dáil Éireann

PART 2

Article 4

Rates of allowances payable to holders of specified positions in Seanad Éireann

PART 3

Article 5

Rates of allowances payable to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees

PART 4

Article 6

Rates of allowances payable to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas sub-committees

PART 5

Article 7

Rates of allowances payable to vice-chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees

PART 6

Article 8

Rates of allowances payable to whips to specified Oireachtas Committees

PART 7

Article 9

Rates of amounts to be allocated to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees.

SCHEDULE 2

PART 1

Article 3

Rates of allowances payable to holders of specified positions in Dáil Éireann.

PART 2

Article 4

Rates of allowances payable to holders of specified positions in Seanad Éireann.

PART 3

Article 5

Rates of allowances payable to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees.

PART 4

Article 6

Rates of allowances payable to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas sub-committees.

PART 5

Article 7

Rates of allowances payable to vice-chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees.

PART 6

Article 8

Rates of allowances payable to whips to specified Oireachtas Committees.

PART 7

Article 9

Rates of amounts to be allocated to chairpersons of specified Oireachtas Committees.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

The Order:-

(a)      provides for the payment of an allowance to the two Ministers of State who routinely attend Government meetings, in line with the recommendations of Report No. 38 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector;

(b)      provides for the payment of an allowance to the Assistant Whips of parties with at least seven members in the Dail;

(c)      extends the allowances already paid to the chairs, vice-chairs and whips of Oireachtas Committees and the chairs of Sub-committees to include a number of positions not already in receipt of an allowance, and standardises the arrangements already in place.