Conor Murphy comments on MPs expenses
Published: 11 May, 2009
Sinn Féin MP for Newry/Armagh Conor Murphy has said that reports in the 'Sunday Telegraph' regarding claims by Sinn Féin MPs are 'a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the situation in the run up to the European election'. Mr Murphy also explained that all Sinn Féin employees receive the same industrial wage.
Mr Murphy said,
"It is well known that Sinn Féin MPs need to regularly travel to London on Parliamentary business and use the accommodation that we rent when there. Unlike many other MPs we do not purchase properties at public expense and do not profit from the expenses claimed.
"Sinn Féin makes no apology for refusing to sit in the British House of Commons. The abstentionist position is supported by the vast majority of nationalists and republicans in the six counties. We are elected and therefore mandated on this position. We also make no apology for ensuring that those people who vote for Sinn Féin get the same democratic entitlements as everyone else.
"Sinn Féin is unique in that we are the only Political Party that voluntarily publishes our financial accounts annually. If other parties did likewise then the public might have more confidence in their public representatives.
"Sinn Féin's MPs, MLAs, MEPs and TDs receive an average industrial wage. All other finance goes into providing first class constituency services for the people and the electorate. All waged members of Sinn Féin, including MPs and Ministers, receive the same salary.
"Sinn Féin voted against the increase in salaries for MLAs + our MPs don't receive any salary from Westminster. We also believe that TDs salaries should be reduced and should be capped
Mr Murphy concluded by stating,
"Today's story is nothing more than a deliberate attempt by the Tory led media to misrepresent Sinn Féin in the run up to an election, Sinn Féin will not allow our open and transparent position to be misrepresented in this fashion."
|
