Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does that extend to being paid out of the public purse merely to offer a critique of Opposition parties and their proposals, particularly when the Department the person is supposed to be advising says it is not its responsibility? It seems as if Ministers can have persons appointed to them to spend their time dealing with proposals from other parties.

The Taoiseach will know that as an election approaches the Government always makes available to Opposition parties a costing process through the Department of Finance for whatever proposals they may have. In 2008, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, spent over €514,000 on personal appointments, including advisers, which did not include the adviser to whom I am referring. The Minister was actually over the quota for her allocation of advisers but the Taoiseach and his predecessor condoned the fact because she was then the leader of a minority party. Now that she is no longer in that capacity, what is the situation as regards advisers and personal appointees to the Minister for Health and Children?

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