Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the political activities of each special adviser, special press adviser, or any other type of ministerial adviser in his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [39398/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number and names of all special advisers, special press advisers, or any other type of ministerial adviser in his Department; the name of the Minister or Minister of State to whom he reports; the salary of each adviser now; the salary of each adviser from the time they were appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39415/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together.

There are two special advisers appointed in my Department, Mr Nick Miller and Mr Brian Murphy. The remuneration of Mr Brian Murphy, who is my Special Adviser, is €105,837 and Mr Miller's salary as my Press Advisor is €80,051.

In addition to the above, in lieu of appointing a Personal Assistant, I appointed Mr John Carroll as a Policy Adviser. Mr Carroll is on the same grade as a Personal Assistant and his salary is €48,520.

The restrictions set out in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour with regard to political activity do not apply to Ministerial staff, including special advisors, appointed to temporary unestablished positions coterminous with that of the Minister. None of the above has ever been elected as a Local Authority Member.