Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Earlier this year, and last year, the Taoiseach and many of his ministerial colleagues were busy telling journalists significant savings would be made with regard to the alleged "untold millions" being paid out in allowances across the public service and with the Department of the Taoiseach. Given what happened when the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, made his announcement on the completion of the work by his Department, that, in essence, was more about media spinning than about reality. The saving of €3 million, rather than the suggested €75 million, was very poor. It is extraordinary that the Minister got himself embroiled in such a situation, with no clear outcome.

When the Taoiseach promised to make savings originally, what savings did he promise from his Department and what will the shortfall be? What is the difference between what was targeted and what has subsequently emerged? Did the Taoiseach make assumptions before he agreed the budget figures, including millions in savings from allowances? In other words, when he was preparing his departmental figures and estimates, did he factor in savings from allowances? There has been significant talk about allowances and significant work has been done by the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and others on this. They created the idea that there was a battle ahead and that they would fight a heroic battle against vested interests and tackle the issue of excessive allowances, but that has not happened. People are none the wiser as to what the entire exercise was about.

Why was so much promised in terms of the scale of the allowances? When did the Taoiseach become aware that the savings could not or would not be delivered?

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