With the new Government has come a new team of special advisers. eolas outlines who’s who in the team behind the scenes.
Government ministers have completed their appointments of special advisers. These are the men and women who assist ministers in formulating, implementing and communicating policy, liaising with fellow advisers, department officials and political colleagues. Advisers often act as a conduit between their ministers and the worlds of media, Civil Service, party politics and those seeking to influence government policy.
Under the 1997 Public Service Management Act, senior ministers can appoint two special advisers. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste can appoint more, while ministers of state can appoint one (junior ministers who attend cabinet meetings regularly can appoint two). The legislation states that special advisers are to assist ministers by: providing advice; monitoring, facilitating and securing the achievement of government objectives relating to the department in question; and performing other functions as directed by the Minister. They must also comply with the 1995 Ethics in Public Office Act.
Traditionally, coalition party leaders have appointed programme managers, located in Government Buildings, to oversee implementation of a party’s policies in the Programme for Government, ensure its influence across government, and trying to resolve political differences at the earliest opportunity, preferably before they get to cabinet.
The new Government has opted not to appoint programme managers, though Mark Kennelly and Mark Garrett are seen as performing these functions for the Taoiseach and Tánaiste respectively. They meet on a daily basis.
Most ministers have two advisers, one on policy matters and another on press issues. Policy advisers meet once a week (the day varies). What arises from this meeting generally feeds into the press advisers’ meetings, which takes places once a week, at the same time as cabinet meetings. At this meeting cross- departmental issues are discussed, as well as general discipline and the coherence of Government policies, so as to ensure they are expressed accurately. A Government source described the system as “a very coherent structure” based on “press and policy input, and clear implementation of the Programme for Government.”
Policy advisers attend meetings of cabinet sub-committees, including the Economic Management Council, where appropriate.
As spokesperson for the senior coalition party, the Government Press Secretary works closely with Taoiseach and is also responsible for the broader government press operation. The Deputy Government Press Secretary works closely with the Tánaiste and is the spokesperson for the junior coalition partner.
Special advisers
| Taoiseach: Enda Kenny | Mark Kennelly (Chief of Staff) Angela Flanagan (Policy) Andrew McDowell (Policy) Paul O’Brien (Policy) |
| Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs: Eamon Gilmore | Mark Garrett (Policy) Jean O’Mahony (Policy) Colm O’Reardon (Policy) |
| Agriculture, Food and Marine: Simon Coveney* | Áine Gilroy (Marine and Fisheries, EU negotiations Farm Payments, Horse Racing Ireland, Forestry, Horticulture, Greyhounds)
Fergal Leamy (Food Harvest 2020 and General Strategy, Expenditure Reviews and McCarthy Report, Food and Food Safety, Planning and Functional Areas, Veterinary and Inspection) |
| Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Jimmy Deenihan | Jim Kenny (Policy) Seán Mac Cárthaigh (Policy) |
| Children and Youth Affairs: Frances Fitzgerald | Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill (Policy) Marion Mannion (Policy) |
| Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pat Rabbitte | Simon Nugent (Policy) Finbarr O’Malley (Policy) |
| Education and Skills: Ruairí Quinn | Deirdre Grant (Press) John Walshe (Policy) |
| Environment, Community and Local Government: Phil Hogan | Claire Langton (Policy) Yvonne Highland (Press) |
| Finance: Michael Noonan | Mary Kenny (Policy) |
| Health: James Reilly | Mark Costigan (Press) Seán Faughnan (Policy) |
| Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Richard Bruton | Ciarán Conlon (Policy) Conor Quinn (Press) |
| Justice: Alan Shatter | Thomas Cooney (Policy) Jane Lehane (Policy) |
| Public Expenditure and Reform: Brendan Howlin | Anne Byrne (Policy) Ronan O’Brien (Policy) |
| Social Protection: Joan Burton | Kathleen Barrington (Policy & Press) Edward Brophy (Policy) |
| Transport, Tourism and Sport: Leo Varadkar | Nick Miller (Press) Brian Murphy (Policy) |
| Government Chief Whip: Paul Kehoe | Mark O’Doherty (Policy & Press) |
| Planning and Housing (Minister of State): Willie Penrose | Aidan Culhane (Policy) |
| Government Press Secretary (Fine Gael) | Fergal Purcell |
| Deputy Government Press Secretary (Labour) | Cathy Madden |
*Caitríona Fitzpatrick has been appointed as press adviser but is not a special adviser