Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Ivor Callely

Question:

158 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the persons appointed by her or by the Minister (s) of State at her Department as programme managers, advisers, assistants or back-up staff either in her Department or in constituency offices; the annualised remuneration paid to these staff; the names of individuals, groups or companies which have undertaken or have been approved to undertake full-time, part-time or casual consultancies, reviews, examinations or analyses or any public relations service on her behalf or on behalf of the Minister (s) of State at her Department; the actual and estimated cost for 1997 in this regard; the persons, companies, consultants or otherwise she or the Minister(s) of State at her Department have appointed to carry out work on behalf of semi-State bodies under the aegis of her Department; the reviews, consultancies or reports which she or the Minister(s) of State at her Department have commissioned or are due to commission; and the full costs in respect of all of these matters to her Department. [25102/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

In relation to the appointment of programme managers, advisers or other staff in my office and the offices of the Ministers of State at my Department, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 126 on 14 November 1996 (Official Report, Volume 471, columns 1233-1234). The position has not changed since that time. In relation to consultancies, reviews, etc. I am assuming that the Deputy's question is directed towards consultancies etc. which relate directly to my office and the offices of the Ministers of State at my Department. Information in this regard was given in my reply to a question on 27 June 1995 about ministerial appointments (Official Report, Volume 455, columns 138-140).

As regards public relations consultancies in respect of my office, Coyne Communications and Peter White and Associates have been retained since my appointment to provide ministerial public relations and consultancy services at an annual fee of £15,125 and £21,054, respectively. It is expected that these consultancies will be renewed on the same basis in 1997. No public relations consultancies have been retained in relation to the Ministers of State at my Department as regards their Department of Justice responsibilities.

There are no semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.