Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended her party’s review into its policy of paying representatives the average industrial wage.
The Irish Times reported this weekend the party is undertaking a review into the procedure.
Ms McDonald said she was immensely proud of the tradition insisting most of the party’s TDs and Senators make no financial gain from their role.
She said the policy “keep us rooted” and “real” but added the TDs “live in the real world”.
The party is reconsidering its long-standing position after a number of members raised issues surrounding it.
Political director for the 26 counties Ken O’Connell said the “one size fits all” policy was not working.
Sinn Féin TDs in the Dublin area in particular are said to have raised the issue with the ard comhairle due to the cost of living in the capital.
Mr O’Connell said a review would be under way in the “near future”.
The party’s existing policy states that a representative of Sinn Féin can only claim the national average industrial wage.
A TD’s pay is currently €87,258, compared to €92,672 prior to the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement last year.
Sinn Féin TDs say they take home the “average industrial wage” of €35,000, with the rest of the money used to employ staff or open constituency offices.
