CONTRACTS:THE CONCLUSION of the outgoing Government's term of office in Dáil Éireann tomorrow means the contracts of employment for advisers and other political appointees also come to an end.
Dr Alan Ahearne, special economic adviser to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, returns to his former position as lecturer in economics at NUI Galway. Prof Peter Clinch, economic adviser to Taoiseach Brian Cowen, returns to University College Dublin.
Most of those contacted yesterday have no plans for the immediate future.
Tomorrow also means the end of the contract as senior programme manager in the Department of the Taoiseach for Joe Lennon, a former government press secretary and head of communications with the Health Service Executive.
Brian Murphy, speechwriter to Mr Cowen and his predecessor Bertie Ahern, is also expected to move on after more than a decade working with government, as is the Taoiseach’s adviser Deirdre Gillane.
Highly experienced government press secretary Eoghan Ó Neachtain has served under taoi-sigh Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen. He was previously public affairs manager for the ESB, and press and public relations officer with the Defence Forces.
Originally from the Connemara Gaeltacht, he is well-known as a rugby commentator and pundit for Irish-language station TG4.
Mr Ó Neachtain, who has been at the heart of government at the time of the greatest political turmoil for decades, would not be drawn about his future plans.
Deputy government press secretary and spokesman for the Green Party in government, John Downing, was previously a senior journalist with the Irish Daily Star, the Irish Examinerand the Irish Independent.
Mark Costigan, also holding the title of deputy government press secretary, was appointed by the Taoiseach at the request of then Progressive Democrat leader Mary Harney.
Since Ms Harney’s resignation from the Cabinet, Mr Costigan has edited the Government’s innovative online news service, MerrionStreet.ie, which was established last July. He is a former political correspondent with Today FM.
Former Irish Timesjournalist Liam Reid was press adviser to Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader John Gormley until the Greens left the Government on January 23rd.
