Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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721. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a detailed breakdown of the name and number of ministerial special advisers in his Department; their annual remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32748/14]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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753. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide full details, including salary, of every appointment he has approved since coming into office of special advisers under his remit; the salary cap that is in place with respect to special adviser appointments; the number of appointments he has approved with salary in excess of the cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 721 and 753 together.

The necessary arrangements in respect of the appointment of my Special Advisors in my new role as Minister for Health are currently being made by my Department. Subject to receipt of sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform it is my intention to make the following appointments.

Both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Miller were employed as my Special Advisors while in my previous role as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Mr. Murphy's rate of pay was approved on an exceptional basis in 2011 by the Department of Finance in view of his previous salary. Mr. Miller's salary currently equates to the fourth point of the Principal Officer Standard (Non PPC) salary scale and is in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines in respect of Ministerial appointments.