Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have not figured out the composition of my advisory team yet. I want to have a working understanding of my new role before I form a full working team and I also want to have a better understanding of what good expertise exists in the Department already and which I will avail of fully. Where there are gaps I will try to fill those with my advisory team. I will of course endeavour to ensure that the total cost of my team is no greater than that of my forebear and much less than that of Taoisigh from previous Administrations.

I have Deputy Howlin's letter on the matter of payments to Ministers of State at Cabinet. The issue is being examined at present and we should understand within a few weeks exactly what is legal and what is not. The law will of course be complied with. I do not have any plans to bring forward a statutory instrument to provide any additional payments.

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