Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Finance the names of advisers he has appointed to his office since becoming Minister; the responsibilities of each; the previous employment of each; the salaries of each; and if he plans to make further additional appointments. [4868/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently two Special Advisers employed in the Department of Finance, who are on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's payroll.

Ms Deborah Sweeney was appointed as Special Adviser to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with effect from 6 May 2016. Ms Sweeney was re-appointed as Special Adviser to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform with effect from June 2017.

Mr Stephen Lynam was appointed as Special Adviser to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with effect from 6 May 2016. Mr. Lynam was re-appointed as Special Adviser to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform with effect from June 2017.

Ms Sweeney is currently on the fourth point of the Principal Officer PPC Scale. Mr. Lynam is currently on the third point of the Principal Officer PPC scale.

Both Ms Sweeney and Mr Lynam were Special Advisers to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform immediately prior to their re-appointment in June 2017. The appointments were made in line with “Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil” which include “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  

Special Advisers are appointed under Section 11 of the Public Service Regulations Act 1997 (2) A Special Adviser to a Minister or to a Minister of State, as in the case may be, shall

(a) assist the Minister or Minister of State, as the case may be, by –

(i) providing advice,

(ii) Monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of the Government objectives that relate to the Department, as requested by the Minister or the Minister of State, as the case may be, and

(iii) Performing such other functions as may be directed by the Minister or the Minister of State, as the case may be that are not otherwise provided for in this Act and do not involve the exercise of any specific powers conferred on the Minister or the Minister of State as the case may be or any other office holder by or under any other Act.

The appointments of Advisers are kept under review given the breath of my responsibilities across two Departments.