Joe Walsh
Question:183 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the names and remuneration of all non-established staff employed by him since his appointment as Minister. [3198/96]
Written Answers. - Non-Established Staff.
The following 14 unestablished and contract staff were appointed mainly to fill routine vacancies in various sections of the Department:
One clerical officer and one clerical assistant—former staff of the Department reinstated on hardship grounds;
Two clerical assistants—appointed on contract basis from Civil Service Commission competition for the disabled;
Three services officers, three services attendants and three cleaners— appointed from departmental panels; and
One legal adviser—new post filled on a contract basis from a Civil Service Commission competition.
The remuneration of staff appointed to the clerical, services and cleaner grades is in accordance with standard Civil Service pay for the grades. The legal adviser is remunerated at Assistant Principal level.
The information sought by the Deputy concerning unestablished staff appointed to my office and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Bernard Durkan, is set out in the table below. The remuneration of my research unit is as given in my reply to Deputy Joe Walsh of 23 January 1996.
As controversy has developed regarding my reply to a supplementary question asked by the Deputy on 23 January 1996, I attach a copy of a letter to the Ceann Comhairle on this matter for inclusion in the Official Report, so that there may be no further misunderstanding on the matter.
TABLE
|
Position |
Name |
Remuneration P.A. |
|
£ |
||
|
Minister's Office |
||
|
Personal Assistant |
Ms Katherine Chandler |
18,955 |
|
Special Adviser |
Ms Rosheen Callender |
42,894 |
|
Personal Secretary |
Mr. Niall Behan |
14,640 |
|
Minister of State |
||
|
Personal Secretary |
Ms Rose Kearns |
13,560 |
|
Civilian Driver |
Mr. Seamus Coyle |
13,185 |
|
Civilian Driver |
Mr. Val Lynn (resigned 3 July 1995) |
|
|
Personal Assistant |
Mr. John O'Haire |
12,500 |
|
Civilian Driver |
Mr. Ian Johnston-Smith |
13,185 |
|
Minister's Research Unit |
||
|
Senior Research Officer |
Mr. Angus Laverty |
|
|
Research Assistant |
Ms Caitríona Mullan |
|
|
Part-time Research Assistant |
Ms Mags Murphy |
|
|
Part-time Research Assistant |
Mr. Paddy Gillan |
|
|
Administrative Assistant |
Ms Kay Lynch |
Office of the Minister for Social Welfare
Oifig an Aire Leasa Shóisialaigh
12 February 1996
Sean Treacy TD
Ceann Comhairle
Dáil Éireann
Dublin 2
A Cheann Comhairle, a Chara,
I am writing to you about the matter which gave rise to disorder in the House last Thursday, 8 February.
The basis of that disorder was in the replies I gave to questions in the Dáil on 14 December, 23 January and 6 February, about the Research Unit I set up in my Department with five temporary contract staff.
When I informed the Dáil on 23 January that the positions in the Research Unit had not been advertised I was making a statement in good faith consistent with my understanding of that term. As I have stated previously, I do not regard a notice inForum, an internal Democratic Left newsletter, circulated privately and free of charge, to be an advertisement in the commonly accepted understanding of the word.
I do not claim that my understanding of the term advertising is the only understanding possible, but I do believe it is a valid understanding.
I very much regret that any member would think that my reply was intended to mislead the House. In so far as some members may feel they were misled, I apologise for that.
Yours sincerely,
Proinsias De Rossa TD
Minister for Social Welfare
c.c. Bertie Ahern TD
Mary Harney TD