Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

It was a planned surplus, which had never happened before, and we will do it again if we get the opportunity. In the meantime we will look at all the issues that are on the table, but this is the second week in July and the budget will be delivered in December.

All of the special adviser salaries are a fraction of what they were, in both amount and numbers, compared to the previous Administration.

See this speech in context