Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Sorry, but the Tánaiste did not answer my principle question which was about savings. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform set out saying he was going to save €75 million but then found on 19 September he could only save €3.5 million. Obviously, he now has found extra allowances. How much in savings does the Minister expect to make as a result of these newly identified allowances? It must be remembered they were identified in nine days. Will the €3,500 per annum education training allowance payable to hospital consultants be continued? It would be perverse if it were, in view of the fact that the €16.90 per week paid to lowly paid paramedics is already in the Minister’s sights even though it has been ruled to be part of core pay.

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