Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Government spent €6.2 million in 2008 on special advisers, media advisers and other personally appointed staff. Given the commitment to reduce public service pay by 3%, does the Taoiseach agree that it is time to examine the scale of appointments of special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State?

The Minister for Health and Children is in second place to the Taoiseach, having spent over €514,000 in 2008 on personal appointments and special advisers. The Taoiseach's predecessor defended the number of advisers to the Minister on the basis that she was the leader of the minority party in Government. Given that is no longer the case, I ask the Taoiseach to comment on whether this is still appropriate.

Why is the Minister's former programme manager now paid for by the Department of the Taoiseach? His title has been changed to "special adviser to the Minister for Health and Children". Is this some kind of creative accountancy or what is the reason for it? Given that the Minister also has a press officer in the Government information service, why is this necessary at a time when wards are being closed and people are complaining about a variety of health service issues? Substantial sums of money are obviously involved, so the Taoiseach might like to comment.

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