Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is my final question. The Taoiseach can bullshit away for all he is worth, but these are valid questions that he is refusing to answer and he is doing so day on day. It is a very comfortable thing for the Taoiseach to keep his people in check, despite all the pressures on them currently.

I refer to one final matter which has not been addressed in respect of the efforts within the Taoiseach's Department to find savings. Has any consideration has been given, informally or formally, to the issue of reducing the number of committees within the Houses of the Oireachtas? Has there been any discussion informal or otherwise in respect of any of the committees that have been established? What would the raison d'être be behind any such consideration? What cost savings would be involved, altogether apart from the fact that people are here working anyway? The only additional cost that I can ascertain is in respect of the stipend for the chair of these committees. Will the Taoiseach note that I would have no objection if such a ridiculous situation as the additional payment to chairmen of Oireachtas committees was abolished forthwith?

See this speech in context