Ministerial Advisers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (465)

Alan Kelly

Question:

465. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of special advisers that will be hired by his Department. [22782/20]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Following the commencement of Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act (PMSA) 1997.

The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines and appointments are subject to formal Government approval.

I intend to appoint two Special Advisers in line with the aforementioned guidelines.

In accordance with the guidelines, any further Special Advisers appointed in my Department to Ministers of State would require the approval from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as well as the Government.