TD who blasted ‘reckless and unnecessary' Government spending asked for €1k La-Z-Boy recliner at Leinster House office
A TD who has been critical of Government over wasteful spending asked for a La-Z-Boy recliner to be supplied for his Leinster House office for 'breaks and informal meetings.'
Independent Ireland TD Kenneth O'Flynn has been at loggerheads with
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Independent Ireland TD Kenneth O'Flynn has asked for a recliner for his office
Credit: Paul Sharp - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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The recliner was among ten items he listed for his office
Credit: Alamy
In an email in mid-February to facilities management, Mr O'Flynn looked for ten separate items for his parliamentary office to 'enhance the workspace's comfort and functionality'.
That included a La-Z-Boy recliner as 'comfortable seating' for use during break periods and office meetings with such seats often retailing at well over €1,000.
In response, the Oireachtas said they had no recliners in stock and that they were not 'commonly purchased'.
Mr O'Flynn also sought book shelves, cabinets, and a side-table 'for holding items like lamps or personal effects near the La-Z-Boy or desk'.
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The Independent Ireland TD also asked for a fan and a desk lamp but was told even these were not available as Leinster House was trying to cut its emissions and energy costs.
An email said this was in line with the 'Government's targets' around climate change and that if the light or temperature in the room were a problem, other options could be explored.
Mr O'Flynn has had frosty relations with the Oireachtas since his appointment and in January accused them of a 'disregard for the dignity' of his office in a row over lengthy delays in the fit-out of his office after the election.
In February, he was still seeking updates on when he could expect to have chairs delivered to his own office and that of his parliamentary assistant.
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He wrote: 'It is essential that these items are addressed promptly to facilitate our team's productivity.'
Mr O'Flynn also said there had been delays in providing IT equipment and printing services saying these facilities were 'imperative for a functioning office environment.'
CHAIR CHASING
Asked about his request for the La-Z-Boy, Mr O'Flynn said: 'Maybe I used the wrong word – there is a chair in quite a few of the offices, which looks to me like a recliner.
'I was just looking for the same furniture as they have in the other offices.'
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He said he was still waiting to have all the IT equipment he needed fully installed.
'We're now six months on [from the election] – I have worked in other big organisations, and my experience there would have been very different,' he said.
'TAXPAYERS DESERVE BETTER'
The requests were among dozens made by TDs and Senators to Oireachtas officials in recent months.
In January, O'Flynn blasted the
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He said: 'This is yet another instance of reckless and unnecessary spending that continues unabated in the OPW.
'What is it going to take before this is addressed?
'We've seen it time and time again—projects ballooning in cost, poor execution leading to additional expenses, and no accountability.
'The OPW's spending is symptomatic of a deeper issue with how public funds are managed. Taxpayers deserve better.'
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Asked about the records, a spokeswoman for the Oireachtas said they had no comment to make.
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