Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am speaking to the Taoiseach of the country. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, if a Minister requires a helicopter to fly down to Kerry or Waterford, as the case may be, authorisation normally comes from the Office of the Taoiseach. In view of all the changed circumstances, I am sure the Taoiseach is cognisant of the need for an effective value-for-money spend. On numerous occasions I listened to the Minister, Deputy Gormley, and his party colleagues referring to value for money and how expenses should be kept down. However, I have outlined a case for the Taoiseach in which the said Minister left €26,000 out of expenses incurred by his Department in a freedom of information request. He spent a further €3,000 of the Taoiseach's money on chauffeuring between terminals at Heathrow Airport and a further €3,600 for a UK trip in a bio-fueled car. This was on top of €2,500 spent on the use of a VIP airport in the past 18 months. I do not understand why he makes a big show of travelling over by ferry to Holyhead and then has a chauffeur driven car to get from London to Holyhead. Surely, there are car hire firms available in Holyhead if people wish to cut down on effective spend.

The same applies in the case of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and a litany of things have been published in this regard as well. I am sure the Taoiseach has issued instructions to his Ministers in Cabinet, in their interest, to be very careful in respect of doing their duty where the public purse is concerned. No one wishes to see Ministers going around in rickshaws but there must be a level above which Ministers understand they should not be. Whether this is done by people in other Departments, the Department of Finance or wherever, the Taoiseach should lay down the law for his Ministers. I am sure they are more than willing not to have such odium hanging around politics. Will the Taoiseach explain if he has issued instructions to Ministers and Ministers of State to be cognisant of this matter? Does he keep an eye on these things from his office in Government Buildings?

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