Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide details of the number of political advisors employed by each of his predecessors in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36933/12]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Details of the Special Advisers employed by my predecessors, Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern, in the five year period from 2007 to 2011, are set out in the following table.

* Position as at 1st January for each year.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Taoiseach 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. [36934/12]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of all Special Advisors appointed by him or his Ministers of State since March 2011 whose salary exceeds the first pay point of the Principal Officer Standard Scale; the Special Advisors names and salaries and salary increases awarded the aforementioned Special Advisors since March 2011. [36952/12]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Taoiseach 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 they report; the salary of each advisor now; the salary of each advisor at the time they were appointed; if any salary increase was asked for; if this was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37500/12]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Taoiseach the political activities of each special adviser, special press advisers, or any other type of Ministerial adviser in his Department; if any of them were members of a political party; if so the parties to which they belonged; if any of them are or have been elected local authority members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37581/12]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Taoiseach the names of special advisors for whom salary increases have been requested; the amount requested; the details of those granted increases and the amount by which they were increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40026/12]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I wish to take Questions Nos. 105, 128, 133 and 142 together.

There are five Special Advisers employed by my Department, four of whom are my Special Advisers and one of whom is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip. The details requested in relation to their salaries and who they report to is set out in the following table.

Where salary increases occurred it was due to incremental progression in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on remuneration for Special Advisers.

Under the supervision of my Chief of Staff, the Special Advisers working in my Department provide briefings and advice on a wide range of policy matters, as well as performing such other functions as I may direct from time to time. They also liaise with other Special Advisers in each Government Department so that I remain informed on developments across Government.

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. For the Deputy's information, my Department provides office accommodation to three Special Advisers assigned to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and one Special Adviser assigned to the Minister of State for European Affairs.