Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.

The number of staff broken down by grade in my private office and constituency office, in the offices of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for European Affairs, as well the annual costs in terms of salaries and expenses of each such office are detailed in material which I propose to include in the Official Report. With regard to Deputy Rabbitte's question, 12 staff, as well as one usher, are employed in my private office; and nine staff, four clerical officers and five others, are employed in my constituency office.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Staff in my private office comprise one private secretary at assistant principal grade, one assistant principal, two assistant private secretaries at higher executive officer grade, one personal assistant, one staff officer, one executive officer, five clerical officers and one usher. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for my private office is €675,217, while expenses total €2,508.

Staff in my constituency office comprise two personal assistants, one personal secretary, one executive officer, one staff officer and four clerical officers. The total cost of salaries including allowances and overtime for my constituency office is €291,442. No expenses are incurred.

Staff of the office of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip comprise one private secretary at higher executive officer grade, one executive officer, two staff officers, one staff officer, one clerical officer, one personal assistant and one personal secretary. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for the staff of the office of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip is €389,430, while expenses total €7,312.

Staff of the office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, excluding Department of Foreign Affairs Staff, comprise one private secretary at higher executive officer grade and one clerical officer. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for the staff of the office of the Minister of State for European affairs is €96,430, while expenses total €1,196.

See this speech in context