Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

On 23 February 2011, two days before the general election, the Taoiseach claimed Ireland could not afford Ministers to be doing constituency work in their first 100 days in office and that he would ban them from doing so if elected. There was no small print or qualification to this claim. Characteristically, the Taoiseach patted himself on the back for making such a bold promise.

We now learn from several parliamentary questions that the Taoiseach never had any intention of carrying out this commitment. On taking office, he and his Ministers immediately hired over 60 people to do constituency work, spending approximately €750,000 in their first 100 days.

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