Written answers
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Department of An Taoiseach
Ministerial Advisers Data
Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Taoiseach the political advisers used by Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department since the commencement of this Government; and the commencement and cessation dates in each case. [47971/19]
Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Taoiseach the duties and responsibilities of the political staff appointed by him. [48048/19]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 46 together.
Details of the advisers employed by my Department since I took up office on 14 June 2017 are as follows:
| Name | Role | Start Date | End Date | Salary Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Murphy | Chief of Staff | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Deputy Secretary |
| John Carroll | Head of Policy and Programme Implementation | 05 July 2017 | n/a | Assistant Secretary |
| Patrick Geoghegan | Special Adviser to the Taoiseach | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Assistant Secretary (equivalent) |
| Angela Flanagan | Special Adviser to the Taoiseach | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Philip O'Callaghan | Special Adviser to the Taoiseach | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Clare Mungovan | Special Adviser to the Taoiseach | 08 Jan 2018 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Jim D'Arcy | Special Adviser to the Taoiseach | 04 Sept 2017 | n/a | Assistant Principal (Higher) |
| Nick Miller | Spokesman and Communications Adviser to the Taoiseach | 14 June 2017 | 31 Oct 2017 | Assistant Secretary |
| Feargal Purcell | Government Press Secretary | 14 June 2017 | 31 Oct 2017 | Assistant Secretary |
| Nick Miller | Government Press Secretary | 01 Nov 2017 | n/a | Assistant Secretary |
| Sarah Meade | Assistant Government Press Secretary | 31 July 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Catherine Halloran | Deputy Government Press Secretary | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Name | Role | Start Date | End Date | Salary Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark O'Doherty | Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip | 14 June 2017 | 16 October 2018 | Principal Officer |
| Greg Harkin | Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip | 14 June 2017 | 14 Feb 2018 | Principal Officer |
| Ed Carty | Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip | 12 March 2018 | 16 October 2018 | Principal Officer |
| Peter Feeney | Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip | 16 October 2018 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Peter Harper | Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip | 16 October 2018 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Name | Role | Start Date | End Date | Salary Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Williams | Chief Strategist for the Independent Alliance | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
| Donal Geoghegan | Political Coordinator for Independent Ministers | 14 June 2017 | n/a | Principal Officer |
The Special Advisers working in my office provide briefings and advice on a wide range of policy matters, as well as performing other functions as I may direct from time to time. They also liaise with other Special Advisers in each Government Department so that I am informed on developments across Government.
The Government Press Secretary acts as a spokesperson for me, as Taoiseach, and the Government and is assisted by the Assistant Government Press Secretary in coordinating the media relations of all Government Departments.
The Deputy Government Press Secretary - who is also based in my Department - coordinates communications for all the Independents in Government.
Special Advisers working with Minister of State Helen McEntee and Minister of State Paul Kehoe are employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Department of Defence respectively.
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