Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Martin for raising this matter. We have referred to it on a number of occasions in the past.

As part of the process of Government, every Department and Minister came forward with their recommendations for reducing costs in their respective Departments. The Government collectively made a decision in respect of three embassies, East Timor, Tehran and the Vatican. That is a collective Government decision.

I am aware of the very many letters about this that I get from people around the country and of the way this matter has been hyped up in certain quarters.

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