Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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912. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names and level of renumeration for each ministerial adviser employed within his Department; the specific responsibilities of each adviser; the specific details of each adviser's relevant qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4315/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ministerial advisers are appointed by the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997.

There are currently five Special Advisers serving at my Department, as detailed below. Statutory Instruments 731, 732 and 733 of 2020 refer to these appointments.

Mr Patrick Donohoe and Mr Darran Brennan have been appointed to serve as Special Advisers to me. Mr Donohoe advises on press and policy matters and Mr Brennan advises on political policy matters.

Senator Pippa Hackett is Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity. Ms Caroline Murphy and Mr Stiofán Nutty have been appointed as her Special Advisers, who deal with media and policy matters respectively.

Mr Martin Heydon T.D. is Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Research and Development. Mr Niall Goodwin has been appointed as his Special Adviser on matters relating to policy and media.

All four Special Advisers appointed by myself and Senator Hackett are on the Special Adviser (Principal Officer PPC) pay scale - €89,072 - €103,136 p/a.

Minister Heydon's Special Adviser is on the Special Adviser (Assistant Principal Officer PPC) pay scale - €69,012 - €80,392 p/a.

Details of the qualifications of each Special Adviser will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.