Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2018
333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of each non-Civil Service appointment he has made to a role in his Department; the persons appointed; the role, qualifications and salary of each; and the guidelines that apply in respect of party political fundraising. [13162/18]
View answerThe only non civil service appointments made in my Department since my own appointment have been those of Special Advisers and of Ministerial Drivers. All these appointments have been made in accordance with the relevant guidelines and instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on Ministerial appointments for the 32nd Dáil.
The two Special Advisers appointed in my Department are Mr Jack O'Donnell and Ms Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill. In relation to the role of Special Advisers, this is as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Mr. O'Donnell was previously employed as Deputy Government Press Officer. Ms. Caroll-MacNeill has previously worked as a Special Adviser in the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs and Justice and Equality.
The terms of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 apply to all Ministerial staff appointments, including Special Advisers, and both of my Advisers have been advised of their obligations under the Standards in Public Office legislation. While the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour applies to Ministerial appointees in general terms, the restrictions in relation to political activity under the Code do not apply to staff holding temporary un-established positions whose tenure is coterminous with that of the relevant Minister.
The information requested as regards overall numbers and salary is set out in the following tables:
Minister Eoghan Murphy – Political Appointments
|
Name |
Job title |
Grade |
Pay Scale |
|
Jack O Donnell |
Special Adviser |
Principal Officer (Standard) PPC Scale |
€84,973 - €104,507 |
|
Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill |
Special Adviser |
Principal Officer (Standard) PPC Scale |
€84,973 - €104,507 |
|
James O Connor |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rate |
€691.00 weekly |
|
Vincent Cahill |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rat |
€657.43 weekly* |
*not on the Single Pension Scheme.
Minister of State Damien English – Political Appointments
|
Name |
Job title |
Grade |
Pay Scale |
|
Walter Waldron |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rate |
€691.00 weekly |
|
Joseph Fox |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rate |
€691.00 weekly |
Minister of State John Paul Phelan – Political Appointments
|
Name |
Job title |
Grade |
Pay Scale |
|
Patrick Nolan |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rate |
€691.00 weekly |
|
Michael Grace |
Civilian Driver |
Civilian Driver Rate |
€691.00 weekly |
