Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I cannot give an accurate reply to that question. Similarly to the Exchequer payroll savings of 3%, I have indicated that within Departments and the offices of Ministers and Ministers of State I would like to see a reduction of 10% in the costs of running those offices in whatever way that is required. We must give flexibility to Departments as to how that might happen in particular situations. It may involve early deployment or a reduction in overtime. We need to see a cost saving there so that a signal is sent out that such efforts are being made within the political offices of Departments as well as in departmental offices and agencies generally. We need to see reductions in the cost of servicing these offices. That is my point.

See this speech in context