Government to spend €3m on advisers

THE Government will spend at least €3 million this year on spin-doctors and special advisers, new figures have shown.

The Taoiseach’s bill alone will account for more than €630,000 of this. Bertie Ahern has a programme manager, Gerry Hickey, who earns €195,676 a year, and four special advisers who earn between €87,422 and €115,775 each.

In fact, Mr Hickey’s pay is more than the basic rate of €150,178 afforded to the Taoiseach, but Mr Ahern’s TD salary brings his total earnings to more than €242,000.