Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They are certainly not doing so, at least not during working hours. The person to whom Deputy Dooley is referring is former Deputy Paul McGrath. It is important that Ministers have advisory staff. The key difference between such staff and civil servants is that they must leave their employment when one loses one's job. They operate on a different basis to civil servants, who are always in Departments regardless of the identity of the Minister of the day and who work on longer-term contracts. One of the sad aspects of the departure of the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, was that three other people also lost their jobs on the day he lost his and they have been obliged to seek work elsewhere as a result. We often forget that side of politics. Essentially, the Minister of State does not have an adviser. However, he felt he needed some advice from someone with political experience and knowledge and that person is Mr. Paul McGrath. The latter does not receive any remuneration for the work he does. Mr. Paul McGrath does not do any work in respect of constituency matters but he does advise the Minister of State on any matters relating to sports and tourism, including the sports capital programme.

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