€20m Spinning machine
Varadkar’s pr team could cost €15million more than in Budget
THE real cost to the taxpayer of Leo Varadkar’s personal spin machine and political appointments could be up to €20million a year.
The Taoiseach confirmed he has brought in 20 staff to his department, which brings the bill far in excess of the €5million quoted in the Budget for the cost of the controversial Strategic Communications Unit. Salaries for those politically appointed by Mr Varadkar – who are not members of the public service except one – range from €44,816 to €157,433. This means the average wage bill for the 20 staff would be between €1.5million and €2million. This does not include other costs or expenses such as advertising, printing, travel and subsistence. The salaries for the six to nine staff to be eventually placed in the SCU will be around €500,000, which means nine-tenths of the costs of running this spin machine comes under other areas. If a similar formula was applied to estimating the costs of Mr Varadkar’s personal picks it could bring the bill to around €15million. Add that to the €5million mentioned in the Budget last week for the cost of the SCU for 2018 and that means costs could hit €20million or €400,000 a week. The top earning official on Team Leo is Brian Murphy, his chief of staff, who is paid at deputy secretary grade – €157,433 a year. The next three in the chain of command are Nick Miller, the Government press secretary, and Patrick Geoghegan and Angela Flanagan, both special advisers. All three are paid at assistant secretary grade, which runs from €122,313 to €139,728 per year. Mr Geoghegan is the only one of Mr Varadkar’s appointments who is a public servant. Philip O’callaghan and Jim D’arcy, two more special advisers, are paid at assistant principal grade – €62,966 to €81,924. Lisa Tavey, Mr Varadkar’s personal assistant, is paid at higher executive officer grade between €44,816 and €58,251 a year. Departing Government press secretary Feargal Purcell is paid the same as his incoming successor Mr Miller. Catherine Halloran, deputy Government press secretary for the Independent Alliance ministers, is paid at principal officer grade between €77,849 and €95,487. Sarah Meade, assistant Government press secretary, is on the same grade as Ms Halloran.
Tony Williams, chief strategist for the Independent Alliance; Donall Geoghegan, political co-ordinator for the Independent Ministers; Mark O’doherty, adviser to the chief whip, and Gregory Harkin, special adviser to the Government chief whip, are all paid from around €78,000 to €95,000. James O’grady, Mr Varadkar’s personal assistant based in his constituency office, is paid at higher executive officer grade – €45,000 to €58,000. Seosamh O Duchain, civilian driver for the Government chief whip; John Mcclafferty, civilian driver for the Government chief whip; Ian O’brien, civilian driver for leader of the Seanad, and Edward O’connell, civilian driver for leader of the Seanad, are all listed as appointments made by the Department of the Taoiseach but their salaries are not disclosed.
The best paid official on Team Leo is Brian Murphy who earns €157,433 each year