Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

When the Taoiseach's script writers met with him last week they scripted a speech with the message that we are all in this together and that the Government was going to be fair. However, they had hardly left the room when the Taoiseach approved an 18% increase in travel and subsistence for senior officials of his Department. Staff in the Taoiseach's Office have had their travel and subsistence allowance increased from €275,000 to €325,000. I know what happened when the script writers left the room. The Taoiseach took a clear view on this matter and decided to go for spin over substance.

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