I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 595 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the names and salaries of my Special Advisors is set out in the tabular statement below. There is no Minister of State attached to my Department.
Title
|
Name
|
Annual Salary
|
Press Advisor
|
Kathleen Barrington
|
€86,806
|
Special Advisor
|
Edward Brophy
|
€127,796
|
Kathleen Barrington commenced duty on 18 July 2011, and was initially on a salary of €80,051 i.e. the first point of the Principal Officer pay scale. However, on the basis of her experience and qualifications, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 19 October 2011 to place her on a salary on par with her previous remuneration and received sanction to place her on the 3rd point of the scale i.e. €86,604 per annum effective from the 18 July 2011.
The applicable pay scale grade for Special Advisers is the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €80,051 to €92,672. As Edward Brophy was previously employed in the private sector on a salary package that was more than twice the highest point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for remuneration in excess of the applicable pay scale grade. A single point salary of €127,796 was sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform effective from 29 July 2011. This represents a reduction of over one third in my Special Adviser's previous salary in the private sector.