Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together.

The role of the advisers is to keep me informed on a wide range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, administrative and media matters. Under the direction of the programme manager, their primary function is to ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the programme for Government.

Each of the advisers liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my office for Ministers and their advisers. My advisers attend meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to their responsibilities. They also liaise, on my behalf, with organisations and interest groups outside of Government.

In addition, a number of my advisers have specific responsibilities regarding speech drafting. My programme manager meets other ministerial advisers on a weekly basis. He monitors and reports to me on the programme for Government. The current annual salaries of my special advisers in total is €858,846. The total cost of expenses from June 2002 to end October is €10,788.70.

In reply to Deputy Sargent, they are mainly paid rates, which are tied to Civil Service rates and benchmarking also applies. The numbers have not changed, other than the filling of one vacancy. That position was for an adviser with responsibility for the co-ordination of Ministers of State. One adviser deals with Ministers of State and there was a vacancy for this position, which was filled in the past month. They are obliged to give information in answer to questions from any other Minister. Any of the advisers or for that matter civil servants, but particularly advisers who are outside of the Civil Service quota, have to answer parliamentary questions.

The Standards in Public Office Commission is responsible for policing the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. The special advisers have obligations under those Acts, as do I. It is my duty to make sure they complete certain forms and include all relevant information. I am required to lay these documents before the Houses of the Oireachtas in addition to copies of their contracts, statements of relationships and their qualifications for the posts. I am also required to lay before the Houses copies of their declarations of interests. I have complied fully with these obligations.

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