Mary Harney doubles her spin doctors by keeping official PD one

[cyberianpan]

This is a disgrace, Mary Harney has added the "PD government press secretary" to her retinue at Health

How can this government have any credibility in seeking cuts when they keep on redundant spin doctors ?

Sunday Times: Mark Costigan to keep his job
Mary Harney link means Progressive Democrat spin doctor will stay on state payroll after party is wound up
He's the €115,000-a-year party spokesman who will soon have nothing to talk about. But Mark Costigan, the government spokesman who is the voice of the Progressive Democrats, is to be kept on the state’s payroll after the party ceases to exist.
“I have been contracted to work for the minister for health, not the PDs,” he said. “That’s what the contract says. I continue to be instructed by the minister for health.”

But Harney already has a personal press officer who represents her in her role as health minister, and Derek Cunningham is paid €122,300 a year to do this job.

Costigan is one of three “government press secretaries”, each of them representing the three political parties in government. Eoghan O Neachtain, on a salary of €150,712 a year, deals with queries on behalf of Fianna Fail while John Downing is paid €109,091 per annum to represent the Green party.

cYp

[Digout]

Why is this role not advertised? I'm flucking sick of this nepotism.

[COMMIE]

It was never asdvertise becouse this is a none job. She just people another mate on the books. Who cares, the tax payer footing the bill.

[Digout]

I thought there was a freeze on public recruitment?

[spidermom]

QUOTE>>>>In addition to Cunningham and Costigan, Harney is advised by her long-time programme manager, Oliver O’Connor, who is paid an annual salary of €177,000. Her special adviser, Patricia Ryan, is on a salary of €150,700.>>>END QUOTE

QUOTE......But Harney already has a personal press officer who represents her in her role as health minister, and Derek Cunningham is paid €122,300 a year to do this job.


QUOTE......He's the €115,000-a-year party spokesman who will soon have nothing to talk about. But Mark Costigan, the government spokesman who is the voice of the Progressive Democrats, is to be kept on the state’s payroll after the party ceases to exist.

Costigan was employed as press secretary for the PDs in government, but it has emerged that his contract is coterminous with Mary Harney, the health minister. This means that even when the PD party is wound up, Costigan will continue to be employed.



Somebody do the maths for me...would I be right in thinking thats a hell of a lot?..plus one presumes they have secretaries etc......

[Cyberspaced]

Sickening. Not surprising in the least anymore though. It's as if I'm becoming desensitised since it's just expected.......

[TommyO'Brien]

It was never asdvertise becouse this is a none job. She just people another mate on the books. Who cares, the tax payer footing the bill.

Whatever about the issue of Harney hiring Costigan, to suggest a government press secretary is a "non-job" suggests you do not have a clue what the job is. It is a job most journalists would give their eye teeth for right until they get it and they realise the amount of work involved, and the fact that it is often 80 hours per week, with you being on call effectively 24-7. It is the antithesis of a non-job. It involves dealing with every minister, the Taoiseach, all the radio and television stations and newspapers in the country, working weekends and even having to abandon holidays if a crisis erupts.

[spidermom]

I thought there was a freeze on public recruitment?

Oh silly you...thats frontline staff...you know the ones who dont "spin" and yet make a difference....Ahhhh nice!

[spidermom]

Whatever about the issue of Harney hiring Costigan, to suggest a government press secretary is a "non-job" suggests you do not have a clue what the job is. It is a job most journalists would give their eye teeth for right until they get it and they realise the amount of work involved, and the fact that it is often 80 hours per week, with you being on call effectively 24-7. It is the antithesis of a non-job. It involves dealing with every minister, the Taoiseach, all the radio and television stations and newspapers in the country, working weekends and even having to abandon holidays if a crisis erupts.

AH....bless...want to try it on the frontline.....NO sympathy here mate!

[COMMIE]

Whatever about the issue of Harney hiring Costigan, to suggest a government press secretary is a "non-job" suggests you do not have a clue what the job is. It is a job most journalists would give their eye teeth for right until they get it and they realise the amount of work involved, and the fact that it is often 80 hours per week, with you being on call effectively 24-7. It is the antithesis of a non-job. It involves dealing with every minister, the Taoiseach, all the radio and television stations and newspapers in the country, working weekends and even having to abandon holidays if a crisis erupts.

I maen the job was given to him under the old buddies act.. Was there no goverment press secretarty there till he came. Or are there more then needed now.
Dept of Health/HSE is top heavy enough.