Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Questions Nos. 2 and 3 were submitted by me. There is no issue, from my perspective, with the employment of special advisers. It is only in this country that the notion has developed that there is something wrong with Ministers having staff who are independent of the Civil Service. Even in the Northern Ireland Executive, Ministers have political advisers. Equally, if we want people with ability, we need to pay them, at least in line with the officials with whom they work. It was a pity that Opposition parties in the last Dáil sought to make cheap headlines on these issues, although they knew that if they were in government, they would have to employ political advisers too. For example, two months ago the Government website and the Government Information Services were called sinister propaganda organs whereas, today, they are fine.

In terms of the policy responsibilities of the advisers, it was a very successful policy of the Taoiseach's predecessors to give one adviser special responsibility for Northern Ireland, which helped to provide an essential route for groups to make contact at political level. From my own time in the Department of Foreign Affairs, I am acutely aware of how this was effective in building bridges between different political groupings and traditions in the North and between North and South.

In his reply, the Taoiseach referred to Mr. Mark Kennelly having this role, along with other duties. Will he clarify this and perhaps be more specific in terms of whether Mr. Kennelly will be specifically responsible in the advisory role for developing such links and advising the Taoiseach on Northern Ireland issues?

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