Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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983. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment 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. [46463/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The information requested in relation to my two special advisors is set out in the table:

The two advisors were employed in my Department prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle. On my reappointment as Minister  for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, both were re-appointed under Order No. 418 of 2017 with effect from 15 June 2017. This order was approved by Government on 13 September 2017.I understand that there is no legal prohibition on the Order having retrospective effect. 

Both advisors continued to be paid after June 2017 as there was no break in their roles and continued to be subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during that period.

No advisors have been appointed by Minister of State Kyne to my Department.