Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach has repeated this in his responses to Deputies Kenny and Gilmore.

It is the Taoiseach in his responses who has politicised the work of those involved in the communications unit. He is the one who has done the greatest disservice to the independence of the Civil Service in his continuing refusal to respect the right of all Members to the reportage this team of established and well-paid civil servants carries out. It is a function he holds in reserve for himself and his Cabinet colleagues.

It is simply insufficient and is not a proper utilisation of public moneys. In equating the communications unit with his Fianna Fáil publicity team, as he has drawn the analogy with the publicity teams of other parties, it is he who has created the problem. He should recognise the problem he has created and that it is his role and responsibility to apologise. Will the Taoiseach reconsider his stubborn refusal to have the information these public servants provide to him and his colleagues placed on the Oireachtas website so that every Member can have equity of access?

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