9 ministers pay advisers in excess of salary caps

NINE ministers have awarded their special advisers salaries in excess of the pay cap announced as part of cost-cutting measures.

Sinn Féin said it was “ironic” that the Department of Social Protection had gone above normal pay for Joan Burton’s appointees while “pursuing to the end of the earth those they believe to be fiddling the system.”

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said he approved a breach of the normal pay scale — ranging from €80,000 to €92,000 depending on experience — following applications from nine of the 15 departments.