Galway Bay fm newsroom - Senator Eugene Murphy has moved to defend the issuing of attendance and subsistence payments over a two month period when the Seanad was closed due to lockdown.
A list compiled by the Irish Independent shows 48 Senators shared 120 thousand euro between them each month in such payments.
The data shows Gerard Craughwell received over €2,900 in the two month period, while Ollie Crowe received over €6,300.
Alice Mary Higgins earned over €2,900 in expenses over April and May, while Sean Kyne received over €2,600.
Ronan Mullen is listed as having received over €6,200 while Eugene Murphy received over €6,200.
Pauline O'Reilly received over €6,300 during the period.
Senator Eugene Murphy told Galway Talks the time in question of April and May was probably the busiest period he has has had in politics.
He said he held clinics in Roscommon and Galway as well as several trips to meet Ministers in Dublin.
The Senator said he has no difficulty in paying some back if asked...
