Country can’t run without advisers, says Taoiseach

BERTIE AHERN yesterday insisted the Government would not be able to run the country without the €4m of taxpayers’ money it spends on spin doctors and advisers.

The Taoiseach was responding to a Fine Gael accusation it was unacceptable for the Health Minister’s wages bill for aides to triple in five years to €666,000, while the HSE was imposing a recruitment freeze on frontline staff.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny likened the Government to a baby as he asked Mr Ahern to justify the spending on public relations.

“Does an increase from €206,000 to €666,000 in the cost of special advisers in the Minister for Health and Children’s office represent good value?

“The Government calls to mind something Ronald Reagan said — it is like a baby’s alimentary canal in that it has a huge appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.

“There is one area in the health sector that has seen no recruitment ban.

“How can he justify the value for money this represents given what is falling down around us?” Mr Kenny asked.

Mr Ahern hit back saying the last rainbow government had employed 55 advisers compared to 34 now.

“Do opposition members expect that the Minister for Health and Children and other ministers can sit in their departments with no staff and properly manage a budget of €52 billion?

“The staff working for the Minister for Health and Children are working to their full capacity and to the best of their ability, and are doing an excellent job in helping the Minister to make the necessary reforms in the Department,” Mr Ahern said.