SIX HIRED SO FAR... SOON TO BE TEN ON PAYROLL

JOHN CONCANNON

On secondment from Creative Ireland, John Concannon will be the director of the unit. Concannon, who was director of Creative Ireland, ran the successful state celebrations of the centenary of the Easter Rising. GRADE – Assistant Secretary SALARY – €122,313 to €139,728

ANDREA PAPPIN

Danced with a taxi driver in a traffic jam in 2013, Andrea Pappin was a press officer for Labour before a string of EU-related roles. The Government’s Brexit communications chief.

GRADE – Assistant Principal Officer (Higher) SALARY – €66,457 to €81,924

EUGENE FARRELLY

After taking up a government press role straight out of university in 2013, Eugene Farrelly has since worked for both the Office of An Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure. GRADE – Assistant Principal Officer SALARY – €62,966 to €74,657

KATIE ARCHER

Educated in Wales, Katie Archer is the lowest-ranked officer appointed to the unit, although she has served the Taoiseach’s department for 10 years. GRADE – Clerical Officer SALARY – €23,565 to €36,515

NICK CALLAN

Currently producing multimedia content for the Government’s social media as an administrative officer, Nick Callan is a photographer whose images often appear in news media. Moved to the Taoiseach’s Department in 2012 from Transport. GRADE – Administrative Officer SALARY – €29,742 to €56,415

KATE O’TOOLE

A former journalist, Kate O’Toole has moved to the new Strategic Communications Unit from the Government Information Service. She is a veteran of the government press service. GRADE – Assistant Principal Officer SALARY – €62,966 to €74,657