Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of the special political advisers as appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43882/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he will set out the responsibilities of the special political advisers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3727/07]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the role and responsibility of each of the special political advisers or other non-Civil Service staff appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3858/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the duties and responsibilities of the special political advisers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6308/07]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

There are currently five special advisers appointed by me. The Deputy will be aware that one of my special advisers recently took up office with the Health Service Executive and no decision has yet been taken on a replacement.

There has been no increase in the number of special advisers since I took office. Under the direction of the programme manager, the primary function of the advisers is to monitor, facilitate and help secure the achievement of Government objectives and ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the programme for Government. They are also tasked with giving me advice and keeping me informed on a wide range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, administrative and media matters and performing such other functions as may be directed by me from time to time.

Each of the advisers liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my office for Ministers and their advisers. My advisers attend meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to their responsibilities. They also liaise, on my behalf, with organisations and interest groups outside of Government.

In addition, a number of my advisers have specific responsibilities regarding speech drafting. My programme manager meets other ministerial advisers on a weekly basis. He monitors and reports to me on progress in implementing the programme for Government.

Other non-Civil Service staff appointed by me are the Government press secretary and deputy Government press secretary or head of Government Information Services, the Government Chief Whip's personal assistant and personal secretary, the personal secretary assigned to my constituency office and the personal assistant assigned to the Tánaiste's office.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What is the difference between a special political adviser and a programme manager in the Taoiseach's Department? What has been the cost of the five special political advisers engaged by the Taoiseach over the past couple of years? How frequently do the special political advisers sit down with the Taoiseach and report progress or otherwise on the implementation of the programme for Government? Are the meetings regular or do they occur now and again? Is there a set process in the Taoiseach's Department whereby the special political advisers come together to advise the Taoiseach?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I need to tot up the figures to give the overall cost of the advisers. I will give the figure later.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism is good at figures, he would be quick at it.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I may ask him to tot it for me. I have a list of costs but not the total. I have published the schedule before.

The advisers work closely with individual Departments. When we changed the system a decade ago I assigned them to individual Departments, so normally their work entails liaising with ministerial advisers in the Departments. I meet them on a weekly basis, depending on what issues are relevant. I may confer with them on a daily basis on Northern Ireland issues or on European business in the week before a European meeting. They also attend Cabinet committees, which are either weekly or monthly. I meet with them collectively once or twice a week. I try to keep them linked to Departments because it makes more sense.

There are two programme managers, one for my Department and one for the Tánaiste. They hold seniority and the programme manager in my Department chairs the weekly meeting of programme managers from the other Departments, as well as having responsibility for a number of Departments himself.

Does that cover the Deputy's questions?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I asked how frequently they brief the Taoiseach and give advice, which he probably has much of anyway.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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They keep me up to date, whatever about the advice.

There is a formal working session on Mondays, depending on what issues are pertinent. European and Northern Ireland issues could necessitate more frequent meetings. With European business in particular, a key person is put in place from the country holding the EU Presidency who passes information on several times a week. This is increasingly being done by telephone contact, which is more efficient.

The German Chancellor has been doing a very good job where all her meetings are being fed back into the system almost on a daily basis. It is quite a challenge for the personnel involved because they have to ring 27 countries with updates. Many of these issues are current and the European agenda is getting more complex and demanding.

A unified position being created takes up more and more time, and unfortunately it is different to our system. Some prime ministers may not attend parliament as much as here and they involve themselves extensively in European issues. Therefore, more time is spent here phoning around, but it nevertheless it is an important part of the work.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Can the Taoiseach explain the background to the increase in 2006 in the cost of political advisers? I asked about the next matter before but I will do so again because it continues to grow in urgency. Does the Taoiseach intend to at least beef up the advice he gets on climate change? The New Zealand Prime Minister has stated climate change to be similar to the threat of a nuclear holocaust during the Cold War.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot go back over Leaders' Questions.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Indeed not, and I will not. I have a relevant question on political advisers. Will the issue be a matter for an adviser who will work with the Taoiseach, given the overall responsibility he holds for Departments?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The total cost sought by Deputy Kenny is €560,000, excluding the Chief Whip and Tánaiste's programme manager.

On Deputy Sargent's questions, I depend on the staff in outside agencies and those dealing with the matter in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I do not have an expert of my own on climate change but there are people with considerable expertise within the system.

Deputy Sargent is correct and as this is increasingly an issue on the European agenda, I receive advice on a regular basis directly from the Department and officials within the Department.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach yesterday maintained that the communications unit within his Department was totally apolitical. That could certainly not be stated in any sense with regard to political advisers. Is there a role for these political advisers after the Taoiseach dissolves the Dáil and between then and the general election specifically? Are they stood down for that period or do they continue to work with and advise the Taoiseach?

For example, Deputies going forward for re-election will get letters warning them not to use Oireachtas offices, postage or other facilities for their election campaign. That is fair enough as it is supposed to be the level playing pitch for people who are not Members of the Oireachtas. What will be the position of the Taoiseach's advisers in that case?

The restrictions put on personnel employed by ordinary Members is that they should be sent off for a few weeks break. Will the same happen with the Taoiseach's advisers?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Effectively, that is what happens. If these personnel involve themselves in the political process, which most of them would do, they must take leave from their post. If any of them are involved in the day-to-day work of Government, as distinct from the campaign, they can stay. The last time all of my people, bar one, were involved in the campaign and had to clear out of the building.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Recently, there was controversy regarding the cost of ministerial advisers incurred by the Exchequer, after which a new protocol was introduced. Does it apply to the Taoiseach's advisers?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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They must comply fully with the provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Acts and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001. They have annual forms to fill out and must comply with all of the protocols of the Civil Service under the Public Service Management Act 1997.