€7K PAY HIKE FOR COVENEY ADVISER
A SPECIAL adviser to Simon Coveney received a €7,000 pay bump when she started her role because of her previous experience working with an MEP, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
Laura McGonigle took up her role with the Tánaiste in July.
She was previously elected to Cork City Council for Fine Gael and also worked as an adviser to Fine Gael MEP Deirdre Clune.
Mrs Clune was elected to the final seat in Ireland
South but must wait until after Britain leaves the EU to take up her seat in Brussels.
Special advisers pay scales start at the first point of the principal officer scale, which is €85,823. However Ms McGonigle was brought in on €92,862, the third point of the scale.
Department of Foreign Affairs secretary general Niall Burgess, sought a justification for the higher pay. Emails released under the Freedom of Information Act show that HR cited her work with MEP Clune.
‘As discussed, the Tánaiste wishes to appoint a new special adviser, Ms Laura McGonigle, to take up duty as soon as possible. As per the procedures for appointing ministerial advisers, sanction has been requested from the Taosieach for the appointment, subject to Government approval under the Public Service Management Act.
‘Special Advisers to a minister should normally be appointed on the first point of the principal officer scale. However, secretaries general have delegated sanction to approve any increment on the principal standard scale where they are satisfied that this is justified.’
The secretary general ultimately agreed to sanction the pay rise.
‘I note the five years accrued experience at EU level and agree on that basis to the proposed starting point on the incremental scale,’ Mr Burgess said.
The Tánaiste also has former Newstalk presenter Chris Donoghue as a media adviser on a salary of €98,391.