Written answers
Tuesday, 7 November 2017
Department of Health
Ministerial Advisers Data
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
739. To ask the Minister for Health the names of the special advisers employed in his department; the names of special advisers to junior ministers in his Department; the annual salary of each adviser; if these persons were special advisers immediately prior to taking up their current role or immediately prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle; if so, the minister to which they were appointed to; the date each special adviser was appointed with effect as stated in the government order; the date of the government order; if they received a salary for the period before the appointment order was signed in the case of special advisers whose appointment order date has an effect date earlier than the order date; if so, by whom they were paid; if a special adviser during a period later backdated by appointment order had access to confidential material and or Cabinet papers; if they were subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during this period; if any persons currently employed as special advisers have not yet been appointed by order since the Cabinet reshuffle of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46470/17]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows:
| Minister / Minister of State | Special Advisers | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Minister Simon Harris, T.D. | Joanne Lonergan - was Special Adviser to Minister Harris prior to Cabinet reshuffle and re-appointed by Government Order SI No. 337 of 2017 with effect from 14 June 2017. Continued to receive a salary from Department of Health pending signature of the Order to re-appoint her. Kathyann Barrett - was not a Special Adviser to Minister Harris before the Cabinet reshuffle. Was appointed by Government Order SI No. 337 of 2017 with effect from 14 June 2017. Salary has been paid by the Department of Health backdated to the date of her appointment. | €89,906.00 €81,767.00 |
| Minister of State Finian McGrath, T.D. | Gerry Maguire - was Special Adviser to Minister of State McGrath prior to Cabinet reshuffle and re-appointed by Government Order SI No. 338 of 2017 with effect from 14 June 2017. Continued to receive a salary from Department of Health pending signature of the Order to re-appoint him. Damian O'Farrell - was Special Adviser to Minister of State McGrath prior to Cabinet reshuffle and re-appointed by Government Order SI No. 338 of 2017 with effect from 14 June 2017. Continued to receive a salary from Department of Health pending signature of the Order to re-appoint him. | €76,647.00 €81,767.00 |
The Department has arrangements in place for all advisers to sign the relevant declaration under Circular 15/79 relating to Official Secrecy and Integrity as soon as possible and does not wait for the Government Order of appointment in order to progress this. All advisers assigned to Ministers of this Department have done so.
The Department is currently preparing a Government Order to appoint a Special Adviser to Minister of State Jim Daly.
No comments