Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [37575/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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 delivery of Government objectives relevant to the Minister’s Department. 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 may engage in political activity or join political parties if they wish. These are not matters for which Special Advisers are accountable to Ministers under their contracts of employment.