Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the political activities of each special adviser, special press adviser, or any other type of ministerial adviser in her Department; if any of them were members of a political party; if so, which parties; if any of them are or have been elected local authority members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39396/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number and names of all special advisers, special press advisers, or any other type of ministerial adviser in her Department; the name of the Minister or Minister of State to whom she reports; the salary of each adviser now; the salary of each adviser from the time they were appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39413/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.

Since my appointment on 9 March 2011, I have appointed a Special Adviser, Mr Edward Brophy, and a Press Adviser, Ms Kathleen Barrington.

A single point salary of €127,796 was sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for Mr. Brophy, effective from his appointment on 29 July 2011. In taking up the role with me he left a very senior role in the private sector and took a pay cut of over one third of his previous salary.

Ms. Barrington was appointed from 18 July 2011, and was initially on a salary of €80,051 i.e. the first point of the Principal Officer pay scale. However, on the basis of her experience and qualifications, sanction was received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 19 October 2011 to place her on the 3rd point of the scale, i.e. €86,604 per annum, effective from 18 July 2011.

The restrictions under the terms of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour on civil servants engaging in political activity do not apply to Special Advisers and they can engage in political activity or join political parties if they wish. These are not matters for which my Special Advisers are accountable to me under their contracts of employment.