Creighton: 'Majority of govt advisors subject to salary cap'

A junior Minister has said she can understand the public's concern at the claims surrounding the pay of an advisor in Richard Bruton's office.

It was reported yesterday that the Taoiseach pushed for a former advisor of his to be awarded a pay hike in his new position.

Ciaran Conlon's wage was ultimately raised from €92,000 to €127,000, despite objections by the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin.

Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said today: "There are clear limits and the vast majority of advisors in government have been subjected to those limits.

"I don't know the individual circumstances as to why (there was a pay rise in Ciaran Conlon's case), but I can understand that it would cause concern. I'm sure it will be clarified and explained over the next day or two."