Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ministerial Staff.

Ivor Callely

Question:

312 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the persons appointed by her or by the Ministers of State at her Department as programme managers, advisers, assistants or back-up staff, either in her Department or in constituency officers; the annual 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, analyses or any public relations service on her behalf or on behalf of the Ministers of State at her Department; and the full costs in respect of these to her Department. [8011/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The information sought by the Deputy regarding persons appointed by me, or by the Ministers of State at my Department, as programme managers, advisers or assistants is set out in the following tabular statement:

Office	Number and Grade of Staff	Salary scale
Minister's General Office	1 Personal Secretary (in constituency office)	£161.48 — £239.86 pw
	1 Personal Assistant (formerly Dáil Secretary)	£405.00 pw
Minister's Private Office	1 Programme Manager	£45,525 pa
Minister of State Burton's General Office	1 Personal Secretary	£16,982 pa

It should be noted that there are also civil servants working in the Minister's-Minister of State's office but these are assigned by the Department.

In relation to consultancies, reviews, etc., I am assuming the Deputy's question is directed towards consultancies, public relations service, etc. which relate directly to my office and to the offices of the Ministers of State at my Department. Information in that regard was given in my reply to a question on 27 June 1995 about ministerial appointments — Vol. 455, Official Report, Dail Debates, cols. 138-140.

The following is an up-date on the information previously furnished: Messrs. Coyne Communications and Messrs. Peter White and Associates have been retained for 1996 and 1997 to provide ministerial public relations and consultancy services. Their annual fees remain unchanged. No further public relations consultancies have been retained in relation to the Ministers of State at my Department as regards their Department of Justice responsibilities.