Taoiseach defends special advisers’ high pay

ENDA Kenny has defended the appointment of special advisers on six-figure salaries that exceed guidelines set down by his own administration.

As part of his office staff, the Taoiseach has two advisers, Mark Kennelly and Andrew McDowell, who each earn €168,000 a year.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also has two advisers on similar salaries, Mark Garrett earning €168,000 and Colm O’Reardon on €155,000.

Those salaries exceed the pay scales recommended by the Department of Public Expenditure.

Department guidelines say special advisers’ pay should be line with that of principal officers in the civil service, which ranges from €80,051 to €92,672.

However, the guidelines allow exceptions to be made provided that they are sanctioned by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin and Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

In the Dáil yesterday, Sinn Féin TD Gerry Adams queried why the Taoiseach had advisers earning “nearly five times the average wage” and breaching the Government’s own guidelines.

But Mr Kenny said the advisers in question were people of significant experience and the salary scales on which they were employed were “substantially less” than predecessors in Fianna Fáil-led governments.

But Independent TD Finian McGrath said it always “amazed” him that money could be found for political advisers and not for special needs assistants.

Separately, Mr Kenny was accused of deliberately delaying the comprehensive spending review until after the presidential election.

The review, involving every area of government expenditure and will provide the basis for a three-year fiscal plan of spending cuts and tax hikes.

The Government had originally pledged that the review would be complete by the end of September, but is now saying it is still not finished.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said Mr Kenny was “deliberately delaying” the spending review until after the presidential election, in case leaks about spending cuts harmed the chances of the Fine Gael or Labour candidates for the Áras.

But Mr Kenny said the claim was “absolute and utter nonsense” and said the review wasn’t completed yet because it was a “complex” piece of work.

Bertie gets €377k expenses

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has claimed over €377,000 in expenses since he left office in May 2008.

This includes €10,655 in mobile phone expenses from the Department of the Taoiseach and €367,184 to employ secretarial assistants.

Former taoisigh can employ two secretarial assistants for up to five years after leaving office and one assistant subsequently.

The scheme also covers the cost of computer equipment.

— Catherine Shanahan