Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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206. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to personal appointments made by Ministers during the periods in question. The Deputy will appreciate that, given the considerable passage of time, records in respect of any personal appointments by Ministers in respect of 1981 are not readily available. Information on appointments in respect of 2011 and 2013 is set out below.

In 2011, in my capacity as Minster for Justice and Equality, I appointed two Special Advisers, one Personal Assistant (who performs the role of Press Officer) and one Personal Secretary, all of whom are still serving.

My predecessor, Mr Brendan Smith, did not make any personal appointments. His predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern appointed two Special Advisers, one Personal Assistant and one Personal Secretary. The individuals concerned served for a short period in 2011.