Advisers and backroom staff roll up the sleeves to help boss

The corridors of Leinster House have been very quiet since Taoiseach Enda Kenny made his way to the Áras on Wednesday morning.

But it’s not only the politicians who have cleared out, many of their appointed advisers and backroom staff have taken leave to decamp to party headquarters or to help ministers on the campaign trail, leaving permanent civil servants behind.

When questioned about this, the majority of government departments refused to provide details and instead sent an identical response referring to a circular which “sets out the position regarding civil servants and political activity”.