Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 2

Written Answers. - Involvement of Civil Servants in Politics.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

26 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance whether the rules concerning the involvement of civil servants in politics apply to programme managers, special advisers, personal assistants, public relations consultants and other recently recruited ministerial staff paid from the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

On the 11 July 1985 the Government decided that personal assistants and special advisers in Ministers' Offices are to be exempt from the rules relating to State employees and politics. This exemption also applies to public relations consultants and programme managers who are recruited from outside the civil service and employed on a contract basis.