Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Yes, I am asking the Taoiseach if he is aware that a sum of €114,000 was allocated for the provision of the additional secretarial assistants because the former Taoiseach was in that post. Is he aware that a sum in excess of €300,000 has been claimed by the former Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, since the introduction of the scheme? Is he aware that over the past decade the former Taoiseach John Bruton has availed of the scheme while also involved during the greater part of that time in senior European Union representative roles?

I put it to the Taoiseach that this is a wasteful scheme which has little or no justification. The extent of the generosity requires immediate review, if not the entirety of what was introduced in 2001. Will the Taoiseach accept that this is on top of the pension entitlements of former taoisigh? I understand that it also-----

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