Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the number of political advisors employed by him or his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35877/12]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the number of political advisors employed by his predecessors in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35896/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.

I do not have political advisors in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. However, I have appointed two special advisers in my Department.

The Department formally came in to existence on 6 July 2011 and the question of predecessors does not apply.