Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of the special political advisors as appointed by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30227/10]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of political advisors appointed by him; if any additional advisors have been appointed by him during 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32309/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Under the direction of my programme manager, Mr. Joe Lennon, the primary function of my special advisers is to monitor, facilitate and help secure the achievement of Government objectives and to ensure effective co-ordination in the implementation of the programme for Government. The role and duties of special advisers are described in section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.

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. Each of my advisers liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my office for Ministers and their advisers. They 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 the Government. Special advisers are also tasked with giving me advice and keeping me informed on a wide range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, environmental, administrative and media matters and performing such other functions as may be directed by me from time to time. A number of my advisers have specific responsibilities relating to speech drafting.

During 2010 there have been a number of changes in personnel among my special advisers. Mr. Declan Ryan is no longer special adviser in the Department of the Taoiseach. Ms Deirdre Gillane was appointed as my special adviser on 31 May 2010. She is tasked with supporting the programme manager in co-ordinating the implementation of the programme for Government by liaising with a number of Departments. The role involves attending meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to the programme.

In addition, in view of the coterminous nature of special adviser appointments with the terms of office of Ministers, it was necessary to re-appoint Mr. Padraig Slyne as a special adviser following the change in Government Chief Whip earlier this year. The net result of these changes is that I now have six special advisers, which is one fewer than at the start of this year.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government spent €6.2 million on special advisers, media advisers and other personally appointed staff in 2008. How much was spent in 2009 and to date in 2010? Given the truth of the figures emerging, what is the Taoiseach's view on continuing with this kind of personnel?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the wider Government figure. The issue is that the total spend in Departments is of the order of €50 billion. Advisers were brought in to assist Ministers independent of departmental advice in 1992. They augment and supplement that advice and they are provided with an opportunity not just to advise the Minister, but to have other cross-departmental responsibilities and to integrate the efforts of various Ministers in broad policy areas and whatever other tasks that Ministers of the day prescribe to them. They have been an addition in helping that policy formulation effort.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I recall the appointment of political programme managers in 1992 by Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party but their remit was somewhat different in that it was to iron out difficulties between Ministers before issues arrived at the Cabinet. The programme manager remit in that regard continued between 1994 and 1997 with considerable success.

A special adviser was appointed to the Minister for Health and Children and his salary was €156,000. He has resigned because his remit was up for whatever reason. Will that position be filled?

The Taoiseach stated advisers are there to streamline policy. The Fine Gael Party published a detailed document to restructure the health system entitled FairCare under which, at the end of a five-year period, universal health insurance would be introduced. The Minister for Health and Children offered an 11-page critique of that document and when my party asked the Department for a copy, we were told it was not available in the Department and that it had been prepared by her political adviser. That contradicts the Taoiseach's statement regarding the role and remit of advisers. Surely at a time like this, the Government should not pay political advisers to critique other party's proposals at public expense when the Department is available and has views on such proposals, no more than the Minister's office. Will the Taoiseach comment on that?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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One would expect policy advisers to be able to advise on policy, whether it is Government policy or suggestions from other parts of the House or other parts of society about issues under the remit of the Minister concerned. These are independent of and specifically different from the normal Civil Service advice which is given regardless of political affiliation in any case and which is a departmental view. Special advisers have a remit to do what perhaps the Civil Service cannot do. I do not see any difficulty with the Minister being briefed on aspects of any proposal which may have merit or those which perhaps do not withstand scrutiny. This is a normal part of democratic debate and policy formulation at all times.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Does that extend to being paid out of the public purse merely to offer a critique of Opposition parties and their proposals, particularly when the Department the person is supposed to be advising says it is not its responsibility? It seems as if Ministers can have persons appointed to them to spend their time dealing with proposals from other parties.

The Taoiseach will know that as an election approaches the Government always makes available to Opposition parties a costing process through the Department of Finance for whatever proposals they may have. In 2008, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, spent over €514,000 on personal appointments, including advisers, which did not include the adviser to whom I am referring. The Minister was actually over the quota for her allocation of advisers but the Taoiseach and his predecessor condoned the fact because she was then the leader of a minority party. Now that she is no longer in that capacity, what is the situation as regards advisers and personal appointees to the Minister for Health and Children?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question somewhat. This question relates to the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand that but he is the boss man-----

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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For a while.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----and given the parlous state of our financial affairs and while he is there pro tempore, he is supposed to know what is happening here to a greater extent than some of the other figures being bandied about.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the details of issues in other Departments as that is a matter for a parliamentary question to the Minister concerned. They deal with specific departmental matters. I do not have such information.

With regard to the official or the person concerned, advices were also being given to the Department of the Taoiseach on general health areas and there is an active Cabinet sub-committee on health which was also being serviced by work from that individual as well as from the HSE and from the Department of Health and Children. I just make the point that this person is no longer a special adviser and, therefore, the situation no longer pertains.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Will the position be filled?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans at present.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has informed the House that there are six special advisers in his Department. What is the total annual cost of these six special advisers?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the total annual cost is in the order of €820,000, approximately.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Is this salary only or does it include employer costs?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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This is the annual cost of salaries for the advisers.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Are there additional costs such as employer costs and costs of providing departmental services and support staff to the special advisers? What is the total of additional costs?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would not have information about the cost of the special advisers. People working in the Department do the work that has to be done and obviously advisers have to be supported the same as other senior civil servants.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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With regard to the duties and functions of the special advisers, have they any interaction with the press?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Not specifically. The Government press secretary is the person who deals with the press, in the main.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Is the Taoiseach saying that it would not be in order for a special adviser to brief individual journalists in respect of, let us say, proposals or suggestions or policies which are being put forward by Opposition parties?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am not suggesting that at all. There are special advisers to deal with the press and to act on behalf of a Minister from time to time. In the main, the Government press secretary liaises.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Is the Taoiseach aware that there might be a special adviser whispering in the ears of individual journalists questions they might put to Opposition parties or, as pointed out by Deputy Kenny, critiques of Opposition positions on various matters?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not see anything inappropriate where advisers are dealing with the media. Everyone appointed to a Labour Party Minister in my time would have had to resign if that were the case.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I can see the Taoiseach is in consensus building mood again.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Gilmore was not in the Labour Party at that time.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In his description of the role and duties of special advisers, the Taoiseach described it exclusively in terms of the provision of advice to the Taoiseach and Ministers and liaison between Ministers and the Taoiseach's office. Does the Taoiseach accept, arising from the question I put, that some special advisers may, in addition to that and the work done by the Government press secretary, be engaged in propaganda work on behalf of the Government with the press?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not accept that for a moment. That is another point that was made last week by Deputy Gilmore. Deputy Gilmore is far better trained at how to promote propaganda than I am. Special advisers deal with a range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, environmental, administrative and media matters and perform other functions as may be directed from time to time.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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So they do.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Is that okay?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Yes. I knew that already.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My recollection is that Proinsias De Rossa, when he was the Minister with responsibility for social protection, had five advisers.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has six.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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He advertised in the Workers Party circular to see if anyone was available to advise him.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Last year, the Taoiseach advised the House that some €500,000 was provided by his Department to fund advisers in the Department of Health and Children. Following Deputy Kenny's earlier line of inquiry, and this question relates to the boss man as Deputy Kenny termed it and the Department of the Taoiseach, the Taoiseach said it related to the work of the Cabinet committee on health that he chairs. In order to have a clear understanding, I would like to ask-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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It worries me no end that Deputy Ó Caoláin is heading off on a tangent. This question relates to the role of the advisers appointed to the Department of the Taoiseach and the Office of the Attorney General.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am referring to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle must have drifted for a wee moment, he is welcome back.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I did not, I am concerned about the direction in which Deputy Ó Caoláin is travelling.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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There are many of us adrift.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I was referring to the Department of the Taoiseach and I was quite clear about that. There was no movement away from that. Does the funding continue? Why is that the sole Department from which moneys are made available to cover particular advisers? On that occasion, the Taoiseach also said that advisers give added value to Departments. What added value can the Taoiseach point to in regard to any of the advisers funded by the Department of the Taoiseach at the Department of Health and Children? Were they involved in the debacle of the botched planning of the national children's hospital? Last March, the Taoiseach stated that spending on advisers is not excessive in the circumstances. He cited the returns with regard to seven advisers at that point. Surely, albeit that there are only six currently, from what the Taoiseach has already told us in his reply, does he not think that efficiencies in the public service must begin at the top and that this is an excessive number? Is there call or justification for special advisers to be brought in when there is clearly a resource available to the Taoiseach in his permanent staff in the Department, as there is in all other Departments; people who have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge from their exposure in permanency going through a series of Governments who would be in a position to offer the critical advice one would think the Taoiseach might require from time to time?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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First, there has been much reduction in administrative costs in my Department the same as other Departments. The cost this year compared to last year is down 27%. From memory, the cost for 2009 compared to 2008 is down by over 20% and the reduction on the previous year is in the high teens.

The question arises as to whether one believes the Taoiseach should have any independent advice at all. If one does not believe the Taoiseach should get such advice I presume one would not agree with any of those expenditures. Anyone who is knowledgeable about the Department of the Taoiseach would recognise that there is a need for advisers to assist with all of the co-ordinating work that has to be done right across Government and a need for the Taoiseach's Department to promote cross-sectoral issues, be that in health or elsewhere.

The budget of the Department of Health and Children is more than €15 billion. Half of the funds collected this year in taxes is going on health. On the question of independent advice, sometimes if the argument suits, the criticism from the Opposition is that we are not taking outside advice but when we are talking outside advice we are told we should take inside advice exclusively. No matter what one does someone will have a view suggesting that this or that should not be done. The bottom line on the specific matters raised by Deputy Ó Caoláin is that the payments to the Department of the Taoiseach no longer continue as the person in receipt of that salary through the Department is no longer in the job. That is the answer to that question.

Deputy Ó Caoláin suggested in his first question, before the Ceann Comhairle's interruption, that €500,000 was being made available by my Department to the Department of Health and Children. That is not the case. There was never €500,000. The sum of €514,000 referred to by Deputy Kenny relates to money paid for through, I presume, the Department of Health and Children for staff employed directly in the Minister's office in the Department of Health and Children. I do not have the figures. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle had not drifted quite as far as people suggested.

On the question of advisers in the Northern Ireland Executive, colleagues of the Deputy have many advisers as well. I do not see an objection in principle there. Perhaps a bit of consistency in this jurisdiction would not go astray.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is not an objection in principle. It relates to numbers. I would be surprised if any of my colleagues in comparable positions north of the Border had the numbers of advisers the Taoiseach or any of his colleagues in Cabinet still retain.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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What is the size of their budgets?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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On the sum of the €500,000 to which I referred, that was what I understood to be the case. If it is not, and it only relates to the post of the adviser who is no longer employed, so be it. We can check those details subsequently.

Is there any value for money review on the number of advisers across the board? Has an evaluation of their value or worth been carried out other than the fact that it is great to have the camaraderie, support and occasional note offered to the Taoiseach? The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, does that frequently. It is important that there is an assessment of public moneys being expended. We might not be allowed to ask how many advisers are employed across all Departments. We only know of six for the Taoiseach's position. How many would there be across all Departments? There would be a significant number, greater than the number indicated earlier to Deputy Gilmore. It is reasonable to ask if a value for money audit has ever been carried out on such a significant number of people brought in, particularly in these difficult and straitened economic times.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is down to the officeholder to determine value and if he wants to retain an adviser. To do the job and to obtain advice independent of the Civil Service - while not denigrating the quality of Civil Service advice - and to complete the perspective, people in high office need to make the best possible decisions. It is a matter of opinion, it is not an exact science. We have in the system a small number, relative to the total number of people available to the Government, who come in from outside, some of whom are known to officeholders when they employ them, while others are not known. Not all of the people who work for me were known to me personally. They are committed to the task they have been given and work to advance Government policy, along with people in the public service, permanent civil servants and others, and to implement Government policy.

If this is isolated, people try to suggest that it costs a great deal. In terms of the cost of the public service, these are small numbers but they are valid nonetheless.