Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are working within the legislative and strategic framework set out in the Public Service Management Act 1997.

I refer to the question about Mr. Oliver O'Connor, the special adviser to the Minister for Health and Children, coming under my guise. I believe that, because it is such an important Department which is undergoing major reforms, there is plenty of work to be done by him on behalf of the Government and the Minister for Health and Children and he is attached to my office on the basis that only a limited number of advisers can be appointed to any particular ministerial post. There is no such limit in my Department.

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