Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Ministerial Staff.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

106 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the advisers, programme managers or public relation officers attached to his office; whether those persons are civil servants or private sector employees; when they were employed for this work; the costs associated with these persons; and whether their work is full or part-time. [10702/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I have appointed Mr Gerry Gervin as special adviser. He is a civil servant on secondment from the Department of Defence. His appointment commenced on 8 October 1997. In addition to his normal civil service salary as Principal Officer, Mr. Gervin is paid a 10 per cent allowance in respect of his duties as special adviser.

I have appointed Mr. Rory McCabe on a consultancy basis, for a six month period from 1 January until 30 June 1998, to advise me on major issues arising in the European Union over the six months in question, including follow-up to the Luxembourg summit and issues arising in the context of the Amsterdam Treaty. The fee payable to him is a per diem rate of £150, subject to a maximum of £3,000 per month, plus VAT. Withholding tax is deducted from the fee.

I have not appointed a programme manager or a public relations officer.