Pearse Doherty has launch
ed a vicious attack on fellow Donegal TD Dinny McGinley revealing the Fine Gael politician claims thousands of euro more in travel expenses to the Dail – despite living almost next door to the Sinn Fein man.
McGinley, from Bunbeg, claims €95 per round trip more than Doherty, who lives in Derrybeg, because he claims he travels through Sligo to visit other constituents.
But newly-elected TD Doherty is having none of it and has slammed McGinley’s greed.
And now he has called on the veteran TD to give back the cash he has earned in recent years.
Doherty fumed “I honestly think it’s incredible. We are getting around €400 for a round trip to Dublin. Why in the name of God would you want to take the more scenic route to try and increase that amount of money? It baffles me,” he said.
And he added “Dinny McGinley lives within the same townland as me, we live less than a kilometre from eachother. It is appalling”.
McGinley is allowed to claim €37, 106 a year in travel because he claims he lives between 330km and 360 kms from Leinster House – allowing him an extra €2,000 than Doherty.
Doherty actually disputes the distance, claiming Bunbeg is only between 270kms and 300kms away from the Dail.
The Sinn Fein man, who has impressed many with his outspoken and honest take on politics since arriving in the Dail last month, has actually given back €5,000 in expenses he was given as a Senator between 2007 and 2009.
He argued that he was given too much money as his mileage had been calculated in a higher travel bracket which he was not entitled to.
So far Deputy McGinley has refused to return any of the expenses despite calls from his neighbouring TD.
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