THE TAOISEACH’S decision to retain 20 Ministers of State was criticised by Fine Gael, with party leader Enda Kenny saying the number should have been cut as part of Brian Cowen’s reshuffle.
Mr Kenny pointed out that over the past few decades the number of junior ministers had risen from seven to 10, to 15 and on to 17, before rising to 20 after last year’s election.
He said the position was made even worse by the fact that some Ministers of State did not even have areas of responsibility on which they could act independently.
Fine Gael spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar also criticised Mr Cowen for not reducing the number of junior ministers.
“Brian Cowen had the opportunity today to show political will and real leadership and deliver for the taxpayer. Instead he chose to continue along the same route his Government has been taking for over a decade and ignore all notions of accountability and delivery to focus on internal Fianna Fáil politics,” said Mr Varadkar.
He said the economy was facing serious challenges and with more than 250 people on trolleys in hospitals, classrooms overcrowded and crime rates soaring, Mr Cowen had had a unique opportunity to set down a marker by reducing the number of junior ministries.
“Under Fianna Fáil, this number has increased from 17 to 20 in the last year alone but it is clear they have not delivered value to the taxpayer. With the new ministerial pay hikes, the combined salary of junior and senior ministers will now reach €7,240,000 a year. This cannot be justified and, once again, Brian Cowen has demonstrated he is all bluster and no bottle,” said Mr Varadkar.
The newly appointed Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development Aid, Peter Power, said last night his appointment was a huge personal honour for both himself and his family.
“I hope that the people of Limerick regard it as an honour for the city too,” said Mr Power, who added that urgent humanitarian crisis such as Burma would be on the top of his agenda.
Mr Power reiterated the message from Mr Cowen at the launch of the Fianna Fáil referendum campaign, saying the next task was to concentrate on getting a strong Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Speaking in a debate on the treaty yesterday, another new Minister of State, Martin Mansergh, referred to the fact that driving up the Naas Road he had encountered an anonymous poster that said: “People died for our freedom. Don’t throw it away. Vote No.”
Mr Mansergh said that on the contrary, it was in the EU, as well as the UN, that Ireland had taken its place among the nations of the earth.
“I see our place at the heart of the EU as a fulfilment of the vision of the Emmet brothers, whose grandfather, a Tipperary doctor, is buried in the same cemetery as many of my ancestors.”
