I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together.
In my Department, I have appointed Mary Kenny and Eoin Dorgan as special advisers. The salary for both special advisers has been €83,337 per annum since their appointment.
My predecessor, the late Brian Lenihan, TD appointed two special advisers as follows:
Ms Cathy Herbert (appointed in May 2008): Salary €107,485. Ms Herbert was not a member of the civil service pension schemes. Payments not exceeding 11% of her salary were made on her behalf to a pension fund in respect of her superannuation contributions.
Dr. Alan Ahearne (appointed in March 2009): Salary €135,000. Dr. Ahearne was a member of the pension scheme of NUI Galway, from which body he was on secondment to the Department of Finance. Payments not exceeding 11% of the difference between his NUIG salary and the additional amount he received in respect of his position were made on his behalf to a pension fund in respect of superannuation contributions.