Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The reply from the Taoiseach is, effectively, the same reply he gave on 18 October 2005. No new information has been provided to the Dáil. The only way new information can be elicited is by way of supplementary question so I hope the Ceann Comhairle will allow me to ask three questions.

Will the Taoiseach be more specific about the type of work and responsibilities given to his advisers? He needs to be a little more specific if we are to understand exactly what "helping to secure the achievement of Government objectives" means. Are special advisers involved in focus group work? A report on 30 January in The Irish Times gave a figure in the region of €1 million across a number of parties. Is that type of work part of the responsibility of advisers?

Are the Taoiseach's advisers based in this country or are any based overseas? I understand that the former adviser, Mr. Peter McDonagh, lives abroad but his services have been retained. Will the Taoiseach outline Mr. McDonagh's responsibilities and the cost of same?

The Taoiseach mentioned a figure of €974,400. Does he believe there should be specific and published guidelines for the work of special advisers and, perhaps, also a legislative base given that it is a fairly costly service? It is only fair to taxpayers that there would be some level of accountability. For example, do special advisers deal with constituency work? One can ask how much of this is properly the work of an adviser and, given that it is taxpayers' money, should we be more specific than simply saying the work of advisers is to secure the achievement of Government objectives?

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