The Taoiseach said his advisers would not be working for Fianna Fβil in next year's general election.

Mr Ahern was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, who asked if they would resign in advance from their positions if they were involved in the party's campaign.

The Taoiseach said the normal procedure would be followed. "I presume that if advisers are active and working full-time for Fianna Fβil during the day, they cannot be Government advisers." Mr Ahern, replying to further Opposition questions, gave their names, rank and salaries down to the last penny. His special adviser and programme manager, Mr Gerry Hickey, draws the highest salary, at £127,886.03.

Dr Martin Mansergh, special adviser on Northern Ireland, economic and social matters, is paid £93,007.73; Ms Una Claffey, political adviser, £72,589.58; Mr Gerry Howlin and Mr Peter McDonagh, special advisers, £58,340,44 each; Ms Barbara Jones, special adviser (civil servant on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs), £55,365.33.

When Mr Noonan noted there were pennies in the annual salaries, the Taoiseach replied: "Unfortunately, in the Civil Service we still deal with that." Mr Ahern said a Civil Service code on standards and behaviour was being drafted by the Department of Finance. Political advisers, or advisers to the Government, were also answerable under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, which was overseen by the Public Offices Commission.