A GREEN Party proposal to reduce the number of Ministers of State will not be put before the Cabinet when it meets next week.
It emerged yesterday that Taoiseach Brian Cowen was annoyed by the Greens’ suggestion that the number of Ministers of State should be cut by three. Last night, the Greens made it clear that party leader John Gormley would not bring the proposal before next week’s Cabinet meeting.
Earlier, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern had been dismissive of the idea, saying it was “facile” to suggest that such cuts would “save the country”.
The Greens had said a reduction of Ministers of State to 17 was one of a number of ideas that they would “put into the mix” in a document they were preparing for the Cabinet meeting. The proposal had been aired by Senator Dan Boyle, who said it was one of a number of ideas the Greens had to cut €10-€25 million from the cost of running the Government and the Oireachtas.
Besides reducing mileage rates, ministerial pensions would no longer be paid to serving TDs. Such pensions are not paid to serving members if they still occupy ministerial rank. Mr Gormley said: “Everything must be on the table, all pay and allowances and emoluments. All areas must be reconsidered and that includes the Government and the Dáil.”
However, a spokesman made it clear that the Green Ministers would not put forward the call to reduce Ministers of State.
“Dan Boyle is voicing a view held by many members of the Green Party, but the view of the Ministers in Government is that the issue of appointing Ministers of State is an issue for the Taoiseach,” the spokesman said.
He said there was “ample precedent” for the party to have a different or stronger view on issues than the party’s Cabinet Ministers. The proposal caused some disquiet among Ministers of State yesterday, but Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Martin Mansergh, said he would be prepared to stand down if asked.
“I am the most junior of the junior ministers,” he said. “I am the last. I am obviously prepared to place my office at the disposition of the Taoiseach if the decision was to reduce [numbers]. I would go without fuss or protest.”
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey had offered the idea some support during a 10am media interview yesterday, saying it was worth considering.
However, when asked later if the Government would back a call for three Ministers of State to be axed, Mr Ahern said the spending challenges facing the State went much further.
“I don’t think that would succeed in dealing with the very difficult situation the country finds itself in. We’ll have to take very difficult and substantial decisions that will try and address the difficulties,” he said.
“I heard that call, but to be honest, it’s a little bit facile to say that by getting rid of three junior ministries we’re going to cure the ills of the country.”
It is believed that Mr Ahern was issuing his own opinion about the matter and that he had not spoken to the Taoiseach before going public.
However, a number of sources indicated that Mr Cowen was less than pleased by Mr Boyle’s intervention because such comment can tend to overshadow foreign trade missions. The Taoiseach is currently leading such a mission in Japan.
Talk about the sacking of junior ministers could also create political difficulties for Mr Cowen within Fianna Fáil at a time when discipline would be important, it was also pointed out.
