TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has told his Ministers that special advisers will no longer be allowed to attend meetings of Cabinet sub-committees.
A practice has grown where Ministers and junior Ministers attending Cabinet sub-committees have been accompanied by their special and political advisers.
The sub-committees comprise small groups of key Ministers who specifically discuss priority policy areas of significant national importance. Committees have been established on science and technology; justice; health; social inclusion; and climate change. The committees meet a number of times each year.
According to sources within Government, the practice of advisers attending such meetings has been particularly evident since the formation of the three-party coalition involving Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats.
However, in the past week, Mr Cowen informed his colleagues that in future Ministers can only be joined at sub-committee meetings by the secretary general of the line department. No politically appointed special advisers will be entitled to attend.
The move is another clear signal that Mr Cowen’s style of leadership will be in marked contrast to that of his predecessor Bertie Ahern.
“The change has been made in order to keep focus,” said a Government source.
“It will keep the meetings of Cabinet sub-committees tighter and more purposeful.”