Vol. 480 No. 6
61 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason it was considered necessary to recruit a person from outside to deal with press work for him in view of the extensive resources and expertise available in the press office of the Department of Foreign Affairs; the numbers of persons currently working in the press office of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14720/97]
126 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the appointments made by him through his personal office since being appointed, including programme managers, advisers, special advisers, constituency personnel and all other appointments other than Civil Service appointments; the salary being paid per annum in each case; and if he will give the same information in relation to Ministers of State at his Department. [15118/97]
134 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he or Ministers of State at his Department have appointed a programme manager or a special adviser or both; if so, the salary paid to them; the terms of their contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15003/97]
135 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of non-established civil servants employed in his Department and by the Ministers of State at his Department; their status and function; the costs in terms of salary or consultancy fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15027/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 126, 134 and 135 together.
The staffing of my private and constituency offices is in line with the guidelines agreed by the Government for the staffing of Ministers' offices.
I have recruited a personal adviser to assist the press section in my Department in their dealings with the media at an annual salary of £32,486. The press section of the Department of Foreign Affairs keeps both the domestic and international media informed about development in Irish foreign policy. The demands on the press office have increased in line with the growing interest on the part of the national and international media in Irish affairs arising from recent developments in the Northern Ireland talks process, developments in the European Union following the Amsterdam summit and Ireland's present economic success. The press section in my Department is currently staffed by four permanent civil servants and my adviser will work with them.
I have also appointed a special adviser and a personal secretary in my constituency office at an annual salary of £32,486 and £10,958 respectively. I do not employ a programme manager.
Minister of State Deputy O'Donnell has appointed a personal assistant in her constituency office at an annual salary of £18,975 and two civilian drivers at an annual salary of £13,980 each.
The listed details do not include unestablished staff employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs such as (1) locally recruited staff serving in various Irish diplomatic missions abroad, (2) temporary clerical assistants in the passport offices in Cork and Dublin, (3) personnel employed under the Department's Irish Aid Programme and, (4) a number of services officers and cleaners. A significant number of staff fall into this category and it would not be possible to provide the required information in the time available. However, if the Deputy wishes, I can arrange for these details to be forwarded by letter at a later stage.
