The number of Ministers of State should be reduced from 20 to 12, a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill is proposing.
The Bill was published today by Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter. The move comes as 20 Ministers of State prepare to resign at midnight tonight. Taoiseach Brian Cowen will then nominate just 15 names for tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.
Mr Shatter says the Government's proposed reduction from 20 to 15 does not go far enough.
"Fine Gael believes that the number of Ministers of State should be reduced to 12. The Bill that I am now circulating takes account of this position. If the Government is serious about government reform it will support the Bill," he said.
Mr Shatter said without legislative change, the Government could reappoint TDs in the future to the five positions which are being abolished.
"The Government has been dragged very reluctantly to the position where it will, this week, reduce the number of Ministers of State," he said.
"However, the number of Ministers of State is governed by legislation and the Government presently has no plans to introduce legislation to effect a permanent "reduction in the number who can be appointed."
"Without any legislative change, the Taoiseach and the Government could in the future reappoint TDs to the five positions which are being abolished. The Bill that I have published closes off this loophole," he said.
Mr Cowen was still keeping his counsel close last night over which positions will be abolished, according to Ministers and TDs, although they expect him to make the minimum changes necessary.
However, sources within the Department of Health and Children said the health promotion unit within the department is to be abolished, in a sign interpreted as evidence that Minister of State Mary Wallace¿s position is under threat.
Meanwhile, a major question-mark hangs over Minister of State Seán Power in the Department Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
The key issue is whether Mr Cowen will remove just five of the outgoing team or whether he will seek to promote some backbenchers by removing more of them - although the odds are against this.
The issue has, perhaps, been complicated by the surprise departure of Seán Ó Neachtáin MEP, since Mr Cowen might want to consider the Galway-based Minister of State Michael Kitt as his replacement or, far less likely, his Clare-based colleague, Tony Killeen.
The junior ministers who are regarded as safe are: the Government Chief Whip Pat Carey; the Minister of State for Children, Barry Andrews; the Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche; the Minister of State for Drugs Strategy, John Curran; and former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, who is now Minister of State for Food.
It is not believed that there have been any talks about his future between the Taoiseach and the Green Party leader, John Gormley.