John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My opinion varies slightly. Ministers should pay if their spouses are travelling with them. There is no case to be made for a spouse going on a trade mission. We have established all of that. In general terms, the circular states a seriously exceptional position may be established. That is the only point I was making in 2007. I said already that if that were in today's terms, the answer would probably be "no". That is a given. I cannot be any clearer than that.