TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen revealed that he had six special advisers.

As well as liaising with a number of departments, and acting as a point of contact in his office for Ministers and their advisers, they also dealt with organisations and groups outside of the Government, he said.

“Special advisers are also tasked with giving me advice and keeping me informed on a wide range of issues, including business, financial, economic, political, environmental, administrative and media matters and performing such other functions as may be directed by me from time to time,” he added.

“A number of my advisers have specific responsibilities relating to speech drafting.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Government had spent €6.2 million on special advisers, media advisers and other personally appointed staff in 2008.

Mr Cowen said he did not have a figure for the current cost.

“Advisers were brought in to assist ministers independent of departmental advice in 1992,” he added.

“They augment and supplement that advice and they are provided with an opportunity, not just to advise the Minister but to have cross-departmental responsibilities and to integrate the efforts of various Ministers in broad policy areas and whatever other tasks that Ministers of the day prescribe to them.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked if the Taoiseach was aware “that there might be a special adviser whispering in the ears of individual journalists questions they might put to Opposition parties”.

Mr Cowen said he did not see anything inappropriate where advisers were dealing with the media.

“Everyone appointed to a Labour Party minister, in my time, would have had to resign if that were the case,” he added.

Pressed further by Mr Gilmore, the Taoiseach said his recollection was “that Proinsias De Rossa, when he was minister with responsibility for social protection, had five advisers”.