The country was not exactly gripped with excitement by today’s appointment of 23 ministers of state. But for those in the political bubble it was an important signal of the current pecking order within the two large Government parties. And for the Regional Independent Group it represented the tangible outcome of the role they have played in the Government’s formation.
This is the largest number of junior ministerial positions created by any government in the history of the State, and will need amending legislation before it becomes fully effective.
Enda Kenny reduced the complement of juniors in the midst of the last recession, but it has been creeping upwards ever since. The Government claims the increase is necessary because of the complexity and challenges of 21st century administration. That stretches credulity.
If it were the case that all of those appointed to office today had clearly delineated and substantive duties, then the Government’s assertion might be justified. In reality, only a minority will have meaningful responsibilities, in areas such as finance, European affairs and the new migration portfolio. For most of the rest, their appointment is simply a reward for electoral success or a nod to geographical balance. The appointment of six women and 17 men does little to redress the existing gender imbalance at Cabinet level.
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If nothing else, the case taken this week by Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly challenging the constitutional status of super junior ministers should shed some light on how the ever-expanding, multi-layered structure of ministers, super juniors and juniors actually goes about its business. Whether or not that case is successful in the courts, a reasonable argument can be made that the upper limit of 15 government ministers prescribed by the Constitution fails to address Ireland’s needs in 2025. However, since the political parties are pessimistic about the chances of voters approving any constitutional amendment on the issue, the prospect of real change is remote.
That is no justification for this ad hoc increase in ministers of state, clearly driven by patronage and political expediency. Nor is it an excuse for the short-termism and lack of strategic vision that continue to blight public administration. Those can be laid at the doors of successive governments and their respective ministers, who, with a small number of exceptions, have proved themselves unwilling or unable to implement real reform or enact real change.
Ireland has a serious problem with what politicians like to call “delivery”. Targets are missed. Projects slip years behind schedule. Budgets grossly overrun. Responsibility for this lies squarely with Cabinet ministers and their departments. They certainly will not be fixed by adding a few more junior ministers.
