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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 5

Ceisteanna – Questions. - Ministerial Staff.

Enda Kenny

Question:

1 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of the special political advisers appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27091/02]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

2 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the non-established civil servants or contract staff appointed to his Department since the general election; the duties of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3396/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Section 11(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 makes provision for the appointment of special advisers to my office. As provided for in section 11(3) of the Act, the terms and conditions of these appointments are subject to determination by the Minister for Finance. The appointments are subject to the Civil Service Regulations Acts 1956 to 1996 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service.

Under the requirements of section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 I am obliged to lay details concerning my political appointees before the House on an annual basis. Deputies will therefore have been aware for some time of the arrangements that apply in my office. Inevitably, there are changes in personnel and structure from time to time.

The political advisers appointed to my Department since the recent general election remain broadly the same as before with some changes in personnel. Dr. Martin Mansergh and Mr. Peter MacDonagh have resigned and Ms Barbara Jones, who carried out speech writing duties, has returned to the Department of Foreign Affairs. On 6 June 2002 I appointed Mr. Joe Lennon, former Government press officer, and Mr. Brian Murphy, former special adviser to Ministers of State, as special advisers. I re-appointed Mr. Gerry Hickey as my programme manager and special adviser and Mr. Gerard Howlin and Ms Una Claffey as special advisers. In addition, Mr. Carl Gibney has been appointed as special adviser to the Government Chief Whip to replace Mr. Frank Lahiffe. The programme manager for the Tánaiste, Ms Katherine Bulbulia, is based in my Department. A list of current special advisers was printed in the Official Report on 15 October last.

The role of my political appointees is to assist me in dealing with the complexities and volume of Government business. Their terms of reference and job description are no different than those of their predecessors. My political appointees advise me on a wide range of matters, including administrative, business, financial and economic issues. Under the direction of my programme manager, their primary function is to ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the Government's programme. In this regard, each of my advisers liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my Department for Ministers and their advisers. They also liaise on my behalf with organisations and interest groups outside of Government.

My programme manager meets ministerial advisers on a weekly basis and reviews the papers for the Government meeting of that week. With his colleagues, he monitors and reports to me on the programme for Government. In the course of their duties, my programme manager and advisers attend meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to the Departments with which they liaise. In addition, a number of my advisers have specific responsibilities in the drafting of speeches.

There has been no increase in the number of special advisers working for the Government compared with the rainbow Government. Under the current Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government, 33 politically appointed programme managers, special advisers and press secretaries assist the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Ministers across all Departments. Of these, seven are civil servants. This compares with 31 under the previous Government, seven of whom were civil servants, and 55 under the rainbow Government, of whom one was a civil servant.

A list of other non-established civil servants or contract staff in my Department appointed since the general election follows:

Non-established or contract staff

Name

Title

Office

Mandy Johnston

Government Press Secretary

Office of the Government Press Secretary

Iarla Mongey

Deputy Government Press Secretary and Head of the Government Information Service

Office of the Deputy Government Press Secretary

Sean Nolan (Civil Servant)

Personal Assistant

Taoiseach's Constituency Office

Name

Title

Office

Yvonne Graham (Civil Servant)

Personal Assistant

Taoiseach's Constituency Office

Olive Melvin (Civil Servant)

Personal Assistant

Taoiseach's Private Office

Sarah McLoughlin

Personal Assistant

Office of the Deputy Government Press Secretary

Evelyn Eager

Personal Assistant

Taoiseach's Private Office

Denise Kavanagh (Civil Servant)

Personal Assistant

Protocol

Averil Power

Personal Assistant to the Minister of State and Chief Whip

Office of the Chief Whip

Nuala Redmond

Personal Secretary to the Minister of State and Chief Whip

Office of the Chief Whip

Ciara Furlong

Personal Secretary to the Minister of State with responsibility for Europe

Office of the Minister of State with responsibility for Europe

Frank Worley

Usher (seconded from Leinster House)

Taoiseach's Private Office

I want to protest at the grouping of questions. The Taoiseach is taking Questions Nos. 3 to 12, inclusive, together.

We are on Questions Nos. 1 and 2.

I want to make this point because it makes a mockery of what we do in this House.

We are only on Question No. 1.

Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive—

We are dealing with Questions Nos. 1 and 2.

The Taoiseach has outlined historical comparisons between the previous two Governments. What is the number of advisers appointed by the Government for Ministers and Ministers of State and the cost of same? Is it true that an annual cost of more than €3.5 million and more than 100 advisers makes the Government better advised and more expensive than the Government of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair?

I have given the figure and I will repeat it. Under the current Fianna FáilProgressive Democrats Government, 33 politically appointed programme managers, special advisers and press secretaries assist the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers across all Departments. Of these, seven are civil servants. This compares with 31 under the previous Government, seven of whom were civil servants, and 55 under the rainbow Government, of whom one was a civil servant. That is the comparison.

Does the Taoiseach have the cost of those?

I only have the cost for my Department. I do not have the costs for the others.

What is the cost of the Taoiseach's staff?

Individually or collectively?

We will take an aggregate figure.

The figure is about €530,000.

Are other companies or individuals on contract to the Taoiseach's Department to give advice? If so, will he give details, please?

No. Some Departments have contracts with public relations companies but my Department does not.

Is it not obvious that, given that the Taoiseach has more advisers, photographers and spinners than before, it is logical that he finds it impossible to make up his mind on most issues?

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