Kenny: Adviser’s €35k pay rise was my ‘duty’

THE Taoiseach has confirmed he sent an email sanctioning a €35,000 pay rise for a Government adviser, claiming it was his “duty” to do so.

Enda Kenny said he agreed to the salary of €127,000 for Ciarán Conlon, an adviser to Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton, because he would help get people off the dole and provide work opportunities.

He also told the Dáil the Government’s own pay cap of €90,000 had to be breached because Mr Conlon earned “well in excess of that” when he was head of the Fine Gael press office.