O'Brien joins Burton team

The Irish Examiner's political editor Paul O'Brien has been appointed special adviser to Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.

He was deputy editor of Magill magazine before joining the Irish Examiner and is a regular contributor to current affairs programmes . He fills a vacancy created by the departure of Kathleen Barrington, previously a Sunday Business Post columnist.

Ms Burton's other special adviser is Edward Brophy, a former senior associate with Arthur Cox solicitors.