Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
408. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to each of her special advisers; if she will provide details of any request made for an increase above the special adviser pay cap from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the amount of the increase sought. [29609/14]
View answerGovernment limits on salaries and numbers of advisors are not applicable to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The names and details of the salaries of the two Special Advisors I have appointed are shown in the following table.
|
Title |
Name |
Annual Salary |
|
Special Advisor |
Edward Brophy |
€119,577 |
|
Press Advisor |
Paul O’Brien |
€75,647 - €92,550 |
As Mr. 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 represented a reduction of over one third in Mr. Brophy’s previous salary in the private sector. His salary was reduced to €119,572 per annum on 1 July 2013 in accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement.
Mr. Paul O’Brien was appointed in December 2012. Mr O’Brien on a salary of €80,051 per annum, the first point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale when he was appointed. However, his salary was reduced in accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement on 1 July 2013. Mr O’Brien progressed to the next point on the pay scale in December 2013.
