Ex-senator gets €80k post with Varadkar

A former Fine Gael senator and one-time general election candidate has been appointed to an €80,000 a year role as adviser to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in a move that will put further scrutiny on his government’s PR and adviser spend.

Former senator Jim D’Arcy was formally given the new role yesterday just hours after Labour leader Brendan Howlin criticised Mr Varadkar over the scale of his backroom team.

In a statement last night, a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar confirmed Mr D’Arcy will work as an adviser for the Taoiseach on Northern Ireland, border issues, and Brexit — areas which are also under the remit of Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.