Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What are the guidelines for limiting the numbers of staff to be appointed in the Taoiseach's Department or other Departments? Does the Taoiseach agree that since 2002 the number of senior staff appointed directly to Ministers has gone up from 34 to 43? The senior staff of the Minister for Education and Science, whom I welcome back to the House, did not increase whereas those of the Minister for Defence increased 100%, from one to two. The Minister for Health and Children made six appointments in 2007 at a cost of €666,561 at a time when nurses on maternity leave could not be replaced.

What are the restrictions on Ministers appointing staff to their offices and all that carry on? Is it true that there is a facility for every Minister to appoint 16 staff, including political advisers, programme managers, press officers, constituency people and so on? What are the restraints on the Taoiseach? His staff has been reduced from nine category one staff in 2002 to eight in 2007. Maybe that person went to the Office of the Minister of Defence. Are there restrictions or how does the Taoiseach tie the numbers back? The Minister for Health and Children does not seem to know what is going on in her Department, yet she has six advisers who cost €666,561 a year.

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