THE Taoiseach told Fianna Fail deputies that he had taken fewer outside staff into his office than his predecessor, Mr Albert Reynolds.

Mr Bruton circulated a list, in response to a question from the Fianna Fail chief whip, which showed seven appointees. This, he said, compared to 10 for Mr Reynolds. In addition, Mr Reynolds had a contract with Carr Communications, costing £35,000, and ironically, the way events unfolded, a company named Nemesis, costing £62,000.

Mr Bruton said his outside appointments were also fewer than Mr Charles Haughey's during his period as Taoiseach.

Mr Noel Dempsey (FF, Meath) said the salary paid to his programme manager, Mr Sean Donlon, was, however, much higher than the salaries of predecessors in that position.

Mr Michael Martin (FF, Cork South Central) said the Taoiseach had also appointed two extra Ministers of State who in turn appointed personal staff.

Mr Bruton said the extra ministers were completely justified in view of the work they were doing. The salary of his programme manager (given in the list as £79,494 a year) had been debated several times.

The list circulated by Mr Bruton gave the salaries of the six appointees to his office, as follows: Mr Gerry Boyle, economic policy adviser, £46,752; Mr Roy Dooney, special adviser, £42,759; Ms Dee Johnstone, personal assistant, £23,970; Ms Deirdre Concannon, personal secretary, £17,138; Ms Ruth Cashill, personal secretary, £13,874; and Mr Kevin Gilna, personal assistant, £20,827.

The office of the Chief Whip, Mr Jim Higgins, listed three outside appointees, including Mr Paddy O'Toole as special adviser with a salary of £43,752.

The other two Ministers of State in the Office of the Taoiseach, Mr Gay Mitchell and Mr Donal Carey, listed 11 staff between them.