Special advisers – Taxpayers entitled to answers

FOR a Government that spends millions of euro on a small army of spin doctors and advisers to tart up its image, the Coalition is slow to tell the public who they are and how much they get.

For a change, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a politician not renowned for his straight answers, sets an example of how it should be done.

In his written answer to Fine Gael’s education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright, Mr Ahern revealed the names, duties and salaries of special advisers recruited from outside the civil service working in his department.

In contrast, the paltry information supplied by Tánaiste Mary Harney mirrored the inconsistency and lack of accountability displayed by several other ministers. So much for transparency in Government. Lest ministers forget, they are spending taxpayers’ money.

To his credit, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy admits openly that his wife Noeleen is his personal secretary on a salary of almost €40,000.

Others should emulate this frankness.