Vol. 470 No. 2
54 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give the exact text of the Government's decision of 21 February 1995 in connection with the setting up of a policy unit to assist him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17365/96]
At its meeting on 21 February 1995, the Government considered the staffing of offices of Ministers and Ministers of State. It was agreed that my personal staffing requirements would be treated similarly to those of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, in order and to provide me, as leader of one of the three parties in Government, with advice and analysis on policy issues which arise outside my departmental responsibilities. On foot of this agreement, I established the research unit.
The terms of appointment, rates of remuneration and conditions of the staff employed in the research unit were sanctioned by the Department of Finance and the appointments were approved by the Office of the Taoiseach. As is usual with this type of appointment, the staff concerned have the status of temporary unestablished civil servants.
