Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I seek clarity on that point. The Tánaiste having, in addition to his departmental advisers, five or six additional advisers in order that he can fulfil his duties as Tánaiste strikes me as absolutely extraordinary. For the leader of the Green Party to have four or five additional advisers, as the Taoiseach said, is similarly extraordinary. Nobody is against bringing expertise to the table; on the contrary. We have to be very sure that things are not being over-egged and that this is not a case of sharing the spoils between the three parties in this tripartite Government.

Can the Taoiseach explain to me why the Tánaiste needs an aide-de-camp? What is the thinking behind that? As the Tánaiste is not the Taoiseach, or at least not yet, why would he require that? I do not understand it and the Taoiseach should give an explanation.

Deputy Kelly has correctly raised issues concerning the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Where there is this kind of additionality in terms of resources, Members and, more importantly, the taxpayer need an explanation as to why all of this is happening. The Taoiseach might answer my question on the Ministers of State who will sit at Cabinet. There are two salaries, but three such Ministers of State. The maths of that does not really add up. Is the Taoiseach going to bring in a third €16,000 allowance?

See this speech in context