Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [39391/11]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [39408/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together.

Special Advisers are appointed under the terms of Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and are required to perform any duties that may be assigned to them from time-to-time by the relevant Minister as appropriate to the position held. Those duties include providing advice as well as monitoring, facilitating and assisting in the achievement of Departmental objectives. The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour apply to the post-holders. 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. The following are details of the Special Advisers currently employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: