Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
383. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form a detailed breakdown of the name and number of ministerial special advisers in her Department; their annual remuneration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32752/14]
View answerGovernment limits on numbers of advisers are not applicable to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The names and details of the salaries of the two Special Advisers I have appointed are shown in the following table.
|
Title |
Name |
Annual Salary |
|
Special Adviser |
Edward Brophy |
€119,577 |
|
Press Adviser |
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 1st July 2013 in accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement.
Mr. Paul O’Brien was appointed in December 2012. Mr O’Brien was 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 1st July 2013. Mr O’Brien progressed to the next point on the pay scale in December 2013.
