Cantwell steps down as Mitchell O’Connor advisor

Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor has lost another member of her staff after her special advisor and former TV host Alan Cantwell quit his €91,624-a-year job.

The resignation comes after recent criticism of Ms Mitchell O’Connor by Fine Gael colleagues over the lack of job creation in rural areas as well as her pre-budget plans being shot down.

Mr Cantwell last night said he was leaving his position, after just five months, for “personal reasons”. The minister said she was sad to see him leave.

Oireachtas sources have confirmed that a driver who was assigned to Ms Mitchell O’Connor, when she was made minister in May, was reassigned after just a few days and appointed instead to drive junior agricultural minister Andrew Doyle.

Mr Cantwell was hired by Ms Mitchell O’Connor as her special advisor for communications shortly after she was appointed to Cabinet. He previously worked as a TV3 presenter.

It is understood that Mr Cantwell was under pressure in his new role and also faced a heavy travel schedule with the minister, which took him away from his family.

He was advisor when the jobs minister’s pre-budget proposal for a special low tax to encourage emigrants to return home was shot down by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil.

Ms O’Connor also faced criticism during a Fine Gael meeting in Leinster House last month when colleagues “tore strips” out of her, according to party sources, over the lack of jobs in rural Ireland. The jobs minister also earlier this year in an interview with the Irish Examiner could not recall the name of her junior predecessor, former minister Ged Nash, and also made several inaccurate references relating to jobs.

Mr Cantwell last night refused to take calls but said he had resigned for “personal reasons”.

Ms Mitchell O’Connor, in a brief statement, said: “I would like to thank Alan for his loyal services, dedication and advice throughout his time as my special advisor in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. His professionalism and work ethic was exemplary.”

Mr Cantwell was one of the highest paid advisors in Government on an annual salary of €91,624 a year, according to the latest figures.