TDS HAVE VOTED to extend the Crisp Lettuce Allowance (CLA) by an extra three months.  During the vote, several government and opposition TDs cited the unseasonably warm and wet weather as justification.

 “Come October one would expect the chill of winter to begin to kick in and keep the lettuce from wilting, but it’s not happening anymore”, said Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith.

“And you can’t expect this house to work effectively without a crisp salad or access to fresh arugula. So it’s right and proper that the allowance keeps pace with the ever changing conditions that we are all witnessing as part of climate change”, he added.

The £34.50 per month allowance was originally introduced in 1976 by then Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave following a particularly hot summer. With this  extension, the allowance is now worth a cool €1,078 per annum, per TD.

©Louth Noises News, 2016.