Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm that no ministerial adviser will be hired for newly appointed Government Ministers at a remuneration in excess of the agreed pay cap for such a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35505/14]
View answerIn July 2014 my Department issued revised Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministerial Offices. In respect of the remuneration of Special Advisers to Ministers, the Guidelines provide that Special Advisers are to be placed on the Principal Officer (standard) scale and that appointments are to at the first point of the scale, except where the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctions a higher salary rate. Consistent with the revised Guidelines, where a business case is submitted to me seeking sanction to make an appointment in excess of the minimum of the scale I will consider the circumstances of the case on its merits.
