Taxpayer forks out €300k on Harney advisers

TWO personal advisers to Health Minister Mary Harney have earned almost €300,000 between them since October last year.

Responding to a Dáil question on payments to her senior advisers since she took over the health portfolio in 2004, Ms Harney revealed that €300,000 has been paid to two individuals since October 2007.

The minister’s special adviser Patricia Ryan has an annual salary of €150,711, while her personal press secretary receives €122,384 — meaning the two advisers received a massive €273,095 since October 2007.