Many ministerial advisers have seen their salaries increase to reward them for their first year in the job.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore came under strong pressure from his parliamentary party to reflect on the pay awarded to his and other government advisers.

At least 13 of the Taoiseach’s staff, including the Government press secretary and his deputy, have been given pay rises amounting to over €31,000.

THE coalition parties were accused of looking after their own “party hacks” by appointing supporters to highly paid Government positions.