Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I consciously did not name the persons involved, a Cheann Comhairle.

If there are to be cuts - we are approaching a winter of cuts - they should start at the top. They should start in the Taoiseach's office with the man who is in charge of the Government and the staff he employs there. That is how we will get an end to the inequality that austerity is reinforcing, as well as a narrowing of the social gap which is being widened daily by austerity policies.

I ask the Taoiseach to show leadership on this issue by implementing the pay cap that his own Government introduced. Are any of those five staff, who the Taoiseach says are working on constituency matters, being paid above the Government's cap?

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