Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is the only amendment in which the Deputy is being mischievous. The rest of the amendments were genuinely tabled. The amendment is meaningless because one can set whatever norms one wishes for paying special advisers. I set low norms on the previous occasion with the aim of having controls. People could then make a case-by-case submission to me with regard to recruiting people whose income previously was greater than the set rate.

I wish to make two points on this amendment. I was surprised at the level of consensus on Committee Stage about the importance of political advisers. They are important.

Modern politics is very complicated. Yesterday I spent the day from early morning to late last night at a meeting with the EMC. A lot of advice is needed on complicated matters that also have a political dimension, as one needs to have people thinking on the same wavelength and for them to be sounding boards. There was a great degree of support for that principle when we discussed this on Committee Stage. I do not believe we should confuse the support for parliamentary activities with the support for the Government, which is separate, unique and equally important.

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