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07/04/2009
Five Junior Minister Posts To Be Scrapped
It has emerged that five junior minister posts are to be scrapped by Brian Cowen later this month.
According to reports today, Mr Cowen held a half-hour meeting with all 20 junior Ministers on Monday morning where he asked all the junior ministers to resign on April 21st.
The move is to allow the Government to reappoint a reduced complement of 15 junior Ministers on the following day.
It is thought the policy could save the exchequer over €2 million a year, but Fine Gael say the cuts don't go far enough.
Responding to the announcement today, Fine Gael Environment Spokesman Phil Hogan TD, said: "Finally the penny has dropped and the Government has realised that there are far too many Junior Ministers and they need to be cut."
However, Mr Hogan added the Government could not justify paying for 15 Junior Ministers and their staff, saying the number should have been set at a maximum of 12.
"This issue has been on the table for months and just two weeks ago Fine Gael gave Fianna Fáil and the Greens the opportunity to cut the number of Junior Ministers from 20 to 12. The Government voted against the measure," Mr Hogan added.
(DW/BMcC)
According to reports today, Mr Cowen held a half-hour meeting with all 20 junior Ministers on Monday morning where he asked all the junior ministers to resign on April 21st.
The move is to allow the Government to reappoint a reduced complement of 15 junior Ministers on the following day.
It is thought the policy could save the exchequer over €2 million a year, but Fine Gael say the cuts don't go far enough.
Responding to the announcement today, Fine Gael Environment Spokesman Phil Hogan TD, said: "Finally the penny has dropped and the Government has realised that there are far too many Junior Ministers and they need to be cut."
However, Mr Hogan added the Government could not justify paying for 15 Junior Ministers and their staff, saying the number should have been set at a maximum of 12.
"This issue has been on the table for months and just two weeks ago Fine Gael gave Fianna Fáil and the Greens the opportunity to cut the number of Junior Ministers from 20 to 12. The Government voted against the measure," Mr Hogan added.
(DW/BMcC)
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