Taxpayer foots €10m pay bill for special advisers
Call to review salaries as cost of Taoiseach's PR machine spirals 'out of control' at €1.6m
It's the only growth industry in politics as the Government will spend €10m of taxpayers' money this year to cover the salaries of the ever-increasing coterie of special advisers and spin doctors for Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his ministers.
Even with recent pay cuts of up to 10 per cent, many of the cabinet public relations handlers are earning well in excess of what backbench TDs and senators are being paid, and there were urgent calls for a review of salaries for special advisers.
It has also emerged that many are receiving a further 11 per cent in pension contributions, while others have received up to 10 per cent "attraction allowances".
Mr Cowen tops the list when it comes to paying for his personal legion of special advisers within his department, press office and Offaly constituency base.
With a total bill for all three operations running to a massive €1.6m, Mr Cowen's PR machine costs are "totally out of control" and indefensible, according to Fine Gael.
The biggest earner in Mr Cowen's team is his programme manager Joe Lennon, who earns €221,929 a year.
Economist Peter Clinch, who was recruited from UCD, is on a salary of €213,092, and government press secretary Eoghan O Neachtain is on €147,036. Two other of Mr Cowen's special advisers -- Gerry Steadman and Brian Murphy -- are on €137,737 each annually.
Deputy government press officers, Mark Costigan and John Downing, are paid €115,862 and €109,091 respectively.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, who is this weekend returning home from hospital following surgery, has two special advisers.
Cathy Herbert, his political adviser, is on a salary of €107,485, while Dr Alan Ahearne, on secondment from NUI Galway, is earning a salary of €135,000.
Health Minister Mary Harney's total costs for her team of advisers and assistants runs to a not-insubstantial €392,000 per year.
Environment Minister and Green Party leader John Gormley has assembled a team of six people for his constituency office; four special advisers in his departmental office; and three staff for his press office, at a total cost of €750,000 this year.
The biggest breadwinner among the Green minister's team is Donall Geoghegan, who receives an annual salary of €177,547 as a special adviser and Green Party manager.
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has three special advisers, with Stephen O'Connor the highest earner on his well-resourced team, earning €107,485.
Tanaiste Mary Coughlan is also not shy in calling in advice, with the small infantry she retains to put a positive spin on her role hitting the Irish taxpayer with a bill for over €600,000 a year.
Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe, who obtained the figures, says the spend on advisers is outrageous.
"This Government talks about a smart economy but we need a cheap economy. This kind of spending is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated any longer.
"I would be opposed to this trend continuing if there was a change in government and politics needs to take a lead in reducing the cost of doing business. These figures will be met with outrage and deep anger by the public," he said.
- DANIEL McCONNELL Chief Reporter
Originally published in
