Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If the Taoiseach is going to do that, he will have to bring it to the floor of the House and I doubt he will do so. Will Ministers of State have advisers? They did not when the economy collapsed in 2011, and we are probably in a worse situation now. The Taoiseach does not agree with that now because it does not suit him. However, we can go back through the record if he wants to do that.

A sum of €80,000 multiplied by 20 is not a good use of taxpayers' money. How are we to vet the advisers for Ministers and the Ministers of State who will sit at Cabinet, something I do not have an issue with? They are meant to be specialist advisers. How will we know they are qualified? How can we vet them to ensure they are not political appointees and are instead specialists in insurance and various different disciplines?

I have raised the issue of the aide-de-camp for the Tánaiste. It is a joke. It is an extra cost. Why is it necessary? We still do not know the total number of advisers for the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party. We will get to that.

The Taoiseach has to answer my question on Ministers of State who will sit at Cabinet. Why is the Minister for Foreign and Affairs and Trade getting a Garda driver and car? Why is this extra cost to the taxpayer, along with the aide-de-camp for the Tánaiste, being tolerated by the Taoiseach given the current economic situation? I do not believe we can have either of those or advisers to Ministers of State.

If the Taoiseach wants to show example and show leadership he will not have any of them. Their total cost is a serious amount, coming to a seven figure sum, and the Taoiseach cannot justify it.

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