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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 11, inclusive, together.

I have seven special advisers working in my private office. These staffing levels are in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's instructions on ministerial appointments for the 32nd Dáil.

The special advisers working in my office 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 across Government. The details are as follows. Brian Murphy is chief of staff. John Carroll is head of policy and programme Implementation. Patrick Geoghegan is special adviser mainly on research and speech writing. Angela Flanagan, Philip O’Callaghan, Clare Mungovan and Jim D’Arcy are the other special advisers.

In addition, the newly appointed Government Chief Whip has two special advisers. Special advisers are also working with the Minister of States, Deputies Helen McEntee and Paul Kehoe. Those special advisers are employed by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence, respectively. Excluding politically appointed staff, 23 staff currently hold senior positions in my Department, namely, those defined as at the grades of principal officer and above. Of these positions, 13 or 57% are held by men and ten or 43% are held by women.

In line with action 8.5 of the Civil Service action plan, my Department has in place a gender balance action plan. As part of this, my Department has committed to 15 actions to improve gender balance, including further flexible working arrangements and actions and that the gender balance of the nominees for the talent management programme is at least 50:50.

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