Ministers' helpers are on the move

IT is all change for the advisers and programme managers in the big economics departments

IT is all change for the advisers and programme managers in the big economics departments. In Finance those moving to other pastures include: economist Brendan Lynch, Minister Quinn's special adviser, who will move to consultancy; programme manager, Ciaran O'Mara, who is a solicitor and is expected to return to practice; Frank O'Dwyer, Hugh Coveney's special adviser, who was an accountant with Arthur Andersen; and Denis Rodgers, the Minister's personal secretary.

Over in Richard Bruton's empire in Enterprise and Employment, they are also dusting down their CVs. Pat Carroll, a chartered accountant who left KPMG where he was a management consultant to work as Mr Bruton's programme manager, is among those now hunting for gainful employment.

Also leaving Kildare Street is the Minister's special adviser, former ESRI economist Siobhan Kenny. Those on Pat Rabbitte's team now clearing their desks include programme manager Noel Ward - a teacher - and former journalist, Fergus O'Raghallaigh, who was special adviser.