Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to each of his special advisors; if he will provide details of any request made for an increase above the special advisor pay cap from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the amount of the increase sought.. [27899/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The following table outlines the names and salary details of the two Special Advisors appointed by me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation.

In line with the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments, sanction for a higher rate of salary for Special Advisers may be granted by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the agreement of the Minister for Finance that takes account of the previous experience and relevant expertise of a particular candidate.

Given his previous experience and in light of the wide range of issues dealt with by my Department and the key role played by Mr. Conlon as my Adviser, my Department wrote to the Department of Finance in April, 2011 requesting the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the appointment of Mr. Ciaran Conlon as my Special Adviser at a rate of €127,000, in line with the salary paid to Mr. Conlon in his previous position.

Sanction was obtained from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Mr. Conlon was appointed to the post of Special Adviser with an annual salary of €127,000.