TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen caused some surprise by dropping seven outgoing ministers of state and then promoting two backbenchers as part of his pledge to cut the overall number from 20 to 15.
“In these difficult economic times, everybody has been asked to make sacrifices and it is appropriate that those in positions of leadership set a strong example,” Mr Cowen said.
The decision to drop Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, who had been outspoken in his criticism of the public service, and Noel Ahern, the brother of the former taoiseach, caused most comment in Fianna Fáil. The other five ministers to lose their positions – Mary Wallace, Máire Hoctor, Micheál Kitt, Seán Power and Jimmy Devins – had already been the subject of wide speculation over the past few weeks.
The two new Ministers of State are Áine Brady from Kildare North and Dara Calleary from Mayo North. Like the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, both are children of TDs, and Ms Brady’s two brothers, Micheál and Tom, are also members of the Dáil.
Congratulating the new Ministers and commiserating with those who were dropped, Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton told the Dáil that Mr Cowen should have gone further in reducing their number and remuneration. "On a lighter note, this reminds me of when I was made a minister of state, when the late John Boland described me as being appointed third mate on the Titanic. In this case there are 15 mates, which is enough to fill an entire lifeboat," Mr Bruton said.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore also offered his congratulations and commiserations but added: “The only point I will make about the appointments is that the country needs somewhat more profound political change than simply making some changes in the office of Ministers of State.”
Ms Hoctor and Ms Wallace did not try to hide their disappointment after the decision was announced. Mr McGuinness said he intended to speak his mind about the political issues of the day. In his selection of Ministers of State the Taoiseach has taken the risk of creating a disaffected group in his parliamentary party but on other issues he has signalled his intention to proceed more cautiously than it appeared on Budget day.
In the Dáil he made it clear that the decision to discontinue the payment of ministerial pensions to sitting TDs would only come fully into force after the next election.
The Taoiseach said that having regard to the existing legal entitlements, the Government would engage in a consultation process “with a view to introducing a proportionate reduction in the rate of pension payable to former ministers sitting in the current Oireachtas, having regard to the pressure on the public purse and the need for public representatives to set an example”.
A Government spokesman said later that they could not anticipate the outcome of the consultation process but he said it would be completed quickly.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern stands to lose around €120,000 a year if his entire office holder’s pension is cut in the lifetime of the current Dáil while a number of former ministers stand to lose smaller sums.
Mr Cowen also clarified the position in the long-service increments paid to TDs, saying they were being frozen rather than being abolished.
“In the next Oireachtas, the question of not going ahead with them in the future will be dealt with in legislation, with a view to ensuring that the pensionability aspect of those increments is taken into account.”
The Taoiseach also told the Dáil that no decision has been made about the timing of the byelections in Dublin South and Dublin Central, despite the fact that he had said it would make sense to hold both on June 5th along with the European and local elections.