Government names full list of press officers and advisers

The Government has appointed its full complement of special advisers and press officers, with many of those who served with the…

The Government has appointed its full complement of special advisers and press officers, with many of those who served with the last coalition being reappointed for a further term.

One of the new appointments is Eoghan Ó Neachtain, who has been appointed by the Taoiseach to the key post of Government press secretary.

A former Army commandant, Mr Ó Neachtain was the press officer of the Defence Forces for a number of years and more recently, he was the public affairs manager with the ESB.

Former Government press secretary Mandy Johnston has moved to another position in the Taoiseach's office.

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Long-serving adviser to the Taoiseach Gerry Howlin has been working in the press secretary position in an interim capacity.

The Green Party has appointed its former general secretary, Don Geoghegan, as its programme manager assigned to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Mr Geoghegan will liaise with the Taoiseach's programme manager, Gerry Hickey, who has been reappointed for a third term.

John O'Brien will perform the same function for the Progressive Democrats.

The Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, has appointed three special advisers.

David Healy, who ran as a party candidate in the general election, and Ryan Meade, a Green Party official, have been appointed as policy advisers.

Mr Gormley has also appointed former Irish Timesenvironment correspondent, Liam Reid, as an adviser with a media relations and policy role. The other Green Party Minister, Eamon Ryan, at Communications Energy and Natural Resources, has appointed Bríd McGrath as his press adviser.

The Green Party has also appointed John Downing, former political correspondent of the Irish Daily Star, to the post of deputy Government press secretary.

The Progressive Democrats have reappointed Mark Costigan to the same position.

Minister for Health Mary Harney has appointed former journalist Derek Cunningham as her press officer. She has also reappointed three special advisers, Oliver O'Connor, Patricia Ryan and John O'Brien.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has appointed Cathy Herbert as his special adviser, while a civil servant, Dale Sunderland, has taken over as the department's press officer.

Jerry O'Connor, the former Fianna Fáil press officer, has taken over as press adviser with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin. Deirdre Gillane will continue as special adviser.

At the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern's two advisers, Richard Moore and Ciaran Ó Cuinn, will continue in their posts, while Suzanne Coogan remains as press adviser to the Minister for Defence.

The former Irish Independentjournalist, Tom Rowley, has moved with Minister Séamus Brennan, to take over as press adviser at the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism while Michelle Hoctor, a sister of the Fianna Fáil TD, Máire Hoctor, has moved to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Seán Fitzpatrick, who was the press adviser at the Department of the Environment, has moved to work for the new Minister at the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health, Dr Jimmy Devins.