FG TDs tell Ministers of anger at pay cap breach

A SUCCESSION of Fine Gael TDs last night sharply criticised the pay levels of ministerial special advisers at a heated parliamentary party meeting.

Several backbench TDs directly told senior Ministers that the breaching of pay caps for a number of advisers had gone down extremely badly with the public, and constituents were bitterly criticising excessive pay for advisers at clinics and when meeting TDs.

In the absence of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who returned from his trip to the US yesterday, the meeting was expected to be routine. But during the debate on the motion of Dublin Mid West TD Derek Keating that advisers’ pay be reviewed by the party, there were heated exchanges and tempers flared on one or two occasions. James Bannon, a TD representing Longford-Westmeath, left the meeting after a testy exchange with Minister of State Michael Ring.

Party chairman Charlie Flanagan confirmed the issue was raised. “Concern was expressed at the negative reaction of members of the public towards ministerial advisers’ pay and conditions,” Mr Flanagan said.

“A variety of opinion was expressed. Some people were concerned at the negative reaction of the electorate. Others spoke of the need to avail of advice because of the very serious economic situation we find ourselves in.”

The meeting was chaired by the party’s deputy leader Dr James Reilly, in the absence of the Taoiseach. Other Ministers present included Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, Mr Ring, and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, all of whom defended the breaching of the cap for at least half a dozen ministerial advisers, and requests (turned down) by some Ministers for even higher pay levels.

A party source said Cork South-Central TD Jerry Buttimer said it was a mistake to have announced a recommended cap of €92,672 on pay for special advisers, which has been controversially breached in a number of cases.

Mr Ring made the same argument and also said he wished he had a special adviser. He said the same TDs who complained to him about the pay of special advisers were the same who complained he was not doing enough for them, partly because he had no special adviser.

Mr Keating said breaching the pay cap was sending out the wrong signal. He was supported by Bernard Durkan (Kildare North), Mr Bannon and Tom Barry (Cork East).

This week The Irish Times reported that Mr Coveney’s new special adviser’s salary had been set at €110,000. Ross Mac Mathúna, a former Glanbia manager, has replaced former Greencore executive Fergal Leamy, who left after five months, despite Simon Coveney stressing his patriotic credentials, to secure a €130,000 salary.