Cost of ministerial advisers and assistants
Fitzgerald challenged the wider cost of ministerial advisers, citing the Labour Minister’s reported annual cost of over £85,000. Dukes said the Finance appointments were temporary and involved no net extra cost because the staff were seconded; O’Kennedy asked whether their former posts were replaced, and Fitzgerald returned to the costs incurred by other ministers.
While accepting that the cost to his Department is comparatively moderate, is the Minister not concerned about the answers given to a similar question from many of his colleagues? As Minister for Finance is he not concerned about the costs incurred by some of his ministerial colleagues providing advisers and secretarial assistants particularly in the case of the Minister for Labour whose annual cost is more than £85,000?
Comment on this
It is for the Minister for Finance to show concern about the enormous cost to taxpayers of ministerial advisers and assistants mainly drawn from the supporters of both parties in Government.
Comment on this
The Chair has said that this is a separate question, but if the Minister has the information and wants to give it, he may answer the question.
Comment on this
In respect of this and other matters, there is no extra cost to the taxpayers. The officers I have spoken about under this question are on secondment from the Houses of the Oireachtas where they would be employed in any case.
Comment on this
I did not ask only about that——
Comment on this
I further draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that the appointments made under the excluding orders are temporary and will terminate not later than the date on which the present Government cease to hold office, a change in practice brought in by this Government and a highly desirable change when compared to previous practices.
Comment on this
What about the ministerial colleagues of the Minister for Finance?
Comment on this
Is somebody else replacing those officers who have been seconded from the Houses of the Oireachtas, or was the work they were doing so irrelevant that they did not require replacement?
Comment on this
The Deputy is being deliberately tendentious in making that statement. One of the officers to whom I referred worked as my secretary when I was in this House and under the arrangements for providing secretarial assistance no net extra number is involved by a transfer of this kind.
Comment on this
What about the Minister's colleagues? I am very interested in them. All their advisers and assistants did not come from the Houses of the Oireachtas.