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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

There are 20 politically-appointed staff employed by my Department. Nine of these are advisers, including two special advisers to the Government Chief Whip. Those based in my Department in Government Buildings are Brian Murphy, chief of staff, paid at deputy secretary grade; John Carroll, head of policy and programme implementation, paid at assistant secretary grade; Nick Miller, spokesman and communications adviser to the Taoiseach, paid at assistant secretary grade; Patrick Geoghegan, special adviser, paid at assistant secretary grade; Angela Flanagan, special adviser, paid at principal officer grade; Philip O'Callaghan, special adviser, paid at principal officer grade; Jim D'Arcy, special adviser, paid at assistant principal grade; Lisa Tavey, personal assistant, paid at higher executive officer grade; Feargal Purcell, Government press secretary, paid at assistant secretary grade; Catherine Halloran, deputy Government press secretary, paid at principal officer grade – she is principally press officer for the Independent Ministers; Sarah Meade, assistant Government press secretary, paid at principal officer grade; Tony Williams, chief strategist for the Independent Alliance, paid at principal officer grade; Dónall Geoghegan, political co-ordinator for the Independent Ministers, paid at principal officer grade; Mark O'Doherty, who is adviser to the Chief Whip, paid at principal officer grade; Gregory Harkin, special adviser to the Government Chief Whip, paid at principal officer grade; Seosamh Ó Ducháin, civilian driver for the Government Chief Whip; and John McClafferty, civilian driver for the Government Chief Whip.

Those based in the Houses of the Oireachtas who fall under my Vote are Ian O'Brien, civilian driver for Leader of the Seanad, Edward O'Connell, civilian driver for Leader of the Seanad and James O'Grady, personal assistant, paid at higher executive officer grade, who is based in my constituency office. With the exception of Patrick Geoghegan, who is a public servant, all are unestablished civil servants.

The special advisers working in my Department provide briefings and advice on a wide range of policy matters, as well as performing other functions as I may direct from time to time. They also liaise with other special advisers in each Department so that I remain informed on developments throughout Government.

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