Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Taoiseach the name, title and number of special advisers in his Department between 1 January to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47500/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Taoiseach the details of the annual salaries in cash amount, and not merely in grade level, of special advisers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47515/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Taoiseach the details of the total cost of pension contributions associated with the retention of special advisers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47530/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 to 74, inclusive, together.

My Special Advisers are Joe Lennon Programme Manager, Gerry Steadman, Peter Clinch, Oliver O'Connor, Brian Murphy and Declan Ryan. Pádraig Slyne is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip and is based in my Department. Their contracts contain details of their salaries and superannuation arrangements and have already been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. However, for the Deputy's convenience, details of their annual salaries are set out in the following table. The pension related deduction applies to all of these salaries.

*Mr. Joe Lennon has made a gift of €22,193 being part of his emoluments from his employment in 2009 for use for any purpose for or towards the cost of which public moneys are provided, and the Minister for Finance has accepted the gift. The salary mentioned above is the total salary prior to the making of the gift.

Joe Lennon, Gerry Steadman and Brian Murphy are members of civil service pension schemes and no additional pension contributions are made in respect of them. Peter Clinch is a member of the UCD pension scheme and a contribution of €5,981 is made by the Department to his pension in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines. In respect of Oliver O'Connor, Padraig Slyne and Declan Ryan, my Department makes pension contributions equivalent to 11% of their salaries towards their pension funds, again in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines.