Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree special advisers add a great amount to the work of a Deputy and, I am sure, even more so to the work of a Minister. We also hear a great deal about responsible Government and fiscal prudence. Yet here, where taxpayers' money is concerned, it seems to the public - people have contacted me - like reckless spending on special advisers. How can we reiterate time and again that we are all in this together when it is quite clear we are not? I have no problem with people having to tighten their belts but the reality is we all have to be wearing the same size trousers at that point. It is very evident that while many people are struggling and many SMEs are starved of capital, there is a select few who live in different reality. Is it fair that at a time when so many people are doing more with less that Ministers continue to have more?

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