Bertie Ahern: The L’Oreal Taoiseach
John Gormley tackled the Taoiseach in the Dáil today on the cost of his “make-up services”. The extract from the Dáil record makes amusing reading. Read on for the full exchanges.
Mr. Gormley asked the Taoiseach the annual figures for moneys paid to a person and a company (details supplied) since 2002 for services to his Department; if he will justify this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14384/06]
The Taoiseach: When I am due to speak in Dáil Éireann or I am about to be interviewed for television, I make the normal preparations that are standard for all those who participate in television programmes, just as successive Taoisigh have done since the introduction of the televising of Dáil proceedings in 1990. The rates paid to the providers of the service are in line with current SIPTU rates. The annual amount paid in respect of the preparations since 2002 is detailed in the following table:
| Year | Amount paid for preparation for television appearances to the person referred to in the question | Amount paid for preparation for television appearances to the company referred to in the question |
| 2002 | €3,887.69 | €7,857.08 |
| 2003 | €4,017.99 | €14,657.44 |
| 2004 | €9,782.44 | €15,870.38 |
| 2005 | €7,589.30 | €17,517.92 |
| 2006 (to end of March) | €1,503.36 | €2,561.30 |
Mr. Gormley: It seems from figures I have seen previously that the Taoiseach is spending hundreds of euro on what are called “make-up services” every week.
Mr. Cuffe: He is looking well on it.
Mr. Durkan: It is disgraceful.
Mr. Gormley: How does the Taoiseach expect taxpayers, many of whom are lying on trolleys, to pay such an exorbitant sum to meet the cost of his vanity, essentially? Is it not extraordinary that it seems, from the figures I have seen, that the Taoiseach spends more money on make-up than many of the ladies in the Cabinet? What sort of priorities does the Taoiseach have when he is heading around like the queen of Drumcondra?
Mr. Durkan: In Fagan’s.
Mr. Gormley: Given that this year is the 80th anniversary of the founding of Fianna Fáil, what does the Taoiseach think the founder of that party, Éamon de Valera—–
Mr. Gogarty: He used mascara.
Mr. Gormley: —–would say about a Taoiseach who spends hundreds of euro on make-up every week?
An Ceann Comhairle: That question does not arise from Question No. 11.
Mr. Kehoe: He would tell him to use Vichy.
Mr. Gormley: Does the Taoiseach agree that we could now call him the L’Oréal Taoiseach, as he spends this money because he is worth it?
Ms Hanafin: He is worth it.
Mr. Kitt: Deputy Gormley could do with some make-up.
The Taoiseach: When Deputy Gormley is Taoiseach some day—–
Mr. Gormley: I thank the Taoiseach for his confidence.
The Taoiseach: —–he will find that the services of two people who are paid on a per diem basis are made available in the Department of the Taoiseach. Their services are usually made available two days a week - they are usually the Dáil days. One of the staff in question has been there since the start.
Mr. Stagg: Is that why the Taoiseach will not come in on Thursdays?
The Taoiseach: If I came in on Thursdays, we would have to pay for three days.
Mr. Durkan: He cannot come into the House unless he is wearing make-up.
The Taoiseach: It would be even more expensive then.
Mr. Stagg: We will pay for it if the Taoiseach agrees to come in.
The Taoiseach: They are paid the SIPTU rate for the job they do.
Mr. Rabbitte: We will pass around a hat if the Taoiseach comes in.
The Taoiseach: I do not think these people should be fired to satisfy Deputy Gormley.
Mr. Gogarty: They could work in the health service.
The Taoiseach: They provide a service and they do their job.
Mr. Stagg: We could decentralise them.
The Taoiseach: They are paid the SIPTU rate. I avail of the same services as everyone else who appears on television. I understand that Deputy Gormley always very carefully goes to the make-up room when he is in RTE.
Mr. Gogarty: One has to go there whether one likes it or not.
The Taoiseach: It is not a question of “whether one likes it or not”. Deputy Gormley always goes to the RTE room and uses make-up.
Mr. Carty: It does not make a difference.
The Taoiseach: He has never been known not to do so in advance of any of his many television appearances.
Mr. Gormley: How does the Taoiseach know all this?
The Taoiseach: I know because I checked.
Mr. Durkan: He must be the fly on the wall in RTE.
Mr. Gormley: I must say the Taoiseach has done some extraordinary research on my habits.
Mr. Cuffe: He is engaging in a security offensive.
Mr. Gormley: Would it be too much trouble for the Taoiseach to apply his make-up himself?
Mr. Durkan: We could not have that.
Mr. Gormley: Does he need all of these people?
An Ceann Comhairle: That does not arise.
Mr. Durkan: We could not expect him to do that.
Mr. Gormley: What is the story here?
An Ceann Comhairle: That is a frivolous question.
Mr. Gormley: Can the Taoiseach give us a breakdown of how much it costs per week? I have seen a figure of €480.
An Ceann Comhairle: It is a long-standing rule that a supplementary question is not in order if the answer to it has already been circulated in response to the original question.
Mr. Durkan: Can we have an estimate of the price per gallon?
Mr. Gormley: I know this is embarrassing for the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach: Not one bit.
An Ceann Comhairle: I have allowed Deputy Gormley a fair amount of latitude.
Mr. Gormley: To spend €480 a week on make-up is extraordinary at a time when there are people lying on trolleys, when we do not have proper schools and when we have extraordinary deficits in our services.
An Ceann Comhairle: You have made your point.
Mr. Gormley: It amounts to nothing more than decadence.
Mr. Durkan: The Romans were like that too.