Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended using a high ranking civil servant on his staff to act as a go-between for his department and Independent TDs who support the Government.
Labour party finance spokeswoman Joan Burton asked Mr Cowen in the Dáil today whether it was the best use of an assistant principal officer’s time to be “ministering to these individuals.”
“An assistant principal officer earns €100,000 a year. How can you stand over this person’s time being devoted to look after independent TDs? It’s a waste of time and money,” she said.
Mr Cowen confirmed it was an assistant principal officer who liaised with Independent TDs but said: “All commitments are subject to health of public finances.”
“The main liaison is with the party Chief Whip. But if they want to contact my office there’s a specific person they can contact. This is normal,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also questioned whether it was the best use of an assistant principal officer’s time to be liaising with independent TDs and asked whether priority was given to issues in these TDs' constituencies.
Mr Cowen said TDs who supported the Government “got more attention” from the Chief Whip.
Mr Kenny also asked why spending on consultants by the Taoiseach’s department had “jumped by 66 per cent” in July and August.
Mr Cowen said he “did not know where Mr Kenny was getting his figures from” and said he “would get back to him.”
Fine Gael TD John O’Mahoney said yesterday private and constituency office staff for Government ministers amounted to some 200 staff at a cost of €10 million.
“A series of parliamentary questions has revealed that constituency and private office staff for ministers are costing €10 million in annual salaries with over 200 staff for 14 ministers,” he said.
“The Government’s big talk about public sector reform is undermined by their inability to get their own house in order,” he said.