Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 7

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

17 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the temporary unestablished civil servants or contract staff in his Department who were on paid leave and unpaid leave for the period of the general election campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/02]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

18 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he has satisfied himself that all unestablished civil servants in his Department complied during the period of the general election campaign with their contractual obligations with regard to non-involvement in party political activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/02]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

19 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the number of non-established civil servants or contract staff appointed or reappointed to his Department since 24 April 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13231/02]

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 19, inclusive, together.

Prior to the start of the general election campaign the Government decided that ministerial private office appointees who worked in the election campaign should take annual leave. This decision was conveyed in a letter issued by the Department of Finance to all Departments stating that where such appointees worked in campaign offices during the general election, the following arrangements should apply: staff who moved to work in campaign offices during the election period should take annual leave to cover the period of unpaid voluntary work in question; staff not involved in campaign offices who remained in their Departments and continued to perform their official duties, should continue to do so on the same basis; where staff were on annual leave to work in the election campaign, arrangements could be made to interrupt annual leave – and election campaigning – if this became necessary for the purpose of attending to official duties.

In complying with these arrangements the following contract staff in my Department availed of paid annual leave during the general election campaign to avoid the conflicting demands of official business.

Gerry Hickey	Programme Manager and Special Adviser
Gerry Howlin	Special Adviser
Katherine Bulbulia	Programme Manager to Tánaiste
Iarla Mongey	Deputy Government Press Secretary
Evelyn Eager	Personal Assistant
Denise Kavanagh	Personal Assistant
Peter MacDonagh	Special Adviser
Brian Murphy	Special Adviser

Each of these staff was appointed in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997, which makes provision for the appointment of special advisers. The terms and conditions of the appointments are subject to determination by the Minister for Finance. Such appointments are exempt from the general rules governing civil ser vants and politics, for example, they can be members of political parties.

With regard to appointments or re-appointments of contract staff to my Department, the number of such appointments remains broadly the same as before with some minor changes in personnel. Martin Mansergh has resigned, and Joe Lennon, former Government Press Secretary, has been appointed Special Adviser for Communications. He is replaced by Mandy Johnston as Government Press Secretary.

In addition Minister of State Deputy Roche and Minister of State & Chief Whip Deputy Hanafin, who have commenced duties with effect from 6th June 2002 in my Department, have appointed two personal staff each.

Questions Nos. 20 and 21 resubmitted.