Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number, rank and pay of all civil servants in his Department and ministerial staff, personally appointed by him or otherwise, who are engaged in media monitoring; the nature of the work done; the persons who the information is circulated to or the people who have access to this information; the cost of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33509/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of press officers and press advisers in his Department; the rank and pay of each; the description of work done; the persons to whom the information is circulated or made accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33539/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of press advisers employed by his Department; the cost of such advice for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33569/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer questions 167, 169 and 171 together.

There were no Press Advisers in my Department for the period concerned. The Press Officer is responsible for management of the Press Office, the functions of which comprise responding to questions regarding the Minister for Finance or the Department of Finance from all members of the broadcast and print media, as well as members of the public; organising press events to inform the press and public on Departmental matters; making necessary arrangements in association with the Minister's Private Office for public events at which the Minister for Finance is speaking, both at national and international levels; and editorial control of the Department's web site.

There is no formal media monitoring system in the Department. However, staff in the Press Office review newsprint and other media on a daily basis and where appropriate bring media articles to the attention of the Press Officer or to the attention of relevant management staff. In addition, management staff throughout the Department have access to both print and on-line media reports.

The salary ranges of the staff in the Press Office are as follows:

Press Officer — €69,179 — €86,504 plus a 10% attraction allowance.

Higher Executive Officer €47,000 — €58,130.

Executive Officer €29,093 — €47,980.

Clerical Officer €22,766 — €36,913.