Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I raised the insistence by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on having a Garda car and drivers. The Taoiseach answered that there had been no Government decision taken on the issue. As such, the 2011 Government decision still stands. Now we have a Minister travelling around in a Garda car at a cost of €200,000 per year without permission because there has been no Government decision on the matter. I want to ask two specific questions about this. The letter sent to me stated the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach rang the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality who rang the Garda Commissioner. Was the Taoiseach aware of that and did he give his Secretary General permission to do so? It would be deeply concerning if he did not give permission. Did the Taoiseach give his Secretary General permission to do that? It is a very interesting question so the Taoiseach should think deeply about it. Where did the Taoiseach ever hear of an audit on the security of a Government Minister being given orally over the phone to justify such a decision?

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