Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I appreciate that. I was introducing a note of levity, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I would like to focus on one or two specific matters. What, if anything, does the Minister propose to do about the laundry tax deduction allowance of €3,500 that is available to Ministers from outside Dublin who stay in hotels?

Can the Minister comment on the dual abode allowance, which is offered to Ministers who maintain second residences in addition to their primary residences and who represent constituencies outside Dublin? The allowance makes it possible for such Ministers to make a claim to the Revenue Commissioners for a tax deduction which can amount to €6,500 per annum. Such expenses and perks cannot be justified at any time and are particularly unjustifiable in the current climate.

The Minister mentioned the issue of mileage and the use by Ministers of their own cars. Can I ask him to address the recent controversy involving his colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn? The controversy suggested that there is some difficulty in measuring the number of kilometres covered by Ministers.

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