Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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220. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of politically appointed staff working in his Department including the names, roles and salaries of each staff member; in the case of special advisers, their qualifications and experience relevant to their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22732/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of political staff in my Department is four. In the following table you will find a list of their roles and annual salaries. 

My special adviser has over 28 years' professional experience in advising me on political matters in the various roles I occupied over this period, including as special adviser in the Department of Health. Most recently this person acted as special adviser during my term as Minister for Finance from 2011 onwards and is now being reappointed to that role. 

The Deputy should also note that I have appointed a second person who is a Principal Officer in this Department and has been assigned as Special Adviser to me.