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THE NEW GOVERNMENT, which is set to take office next week will have the highest number of junior ministers in the history of the State.
Not only that, but they will also be the best paid in the history of the State.
Plans are in place for 23 Minister of State roles to be created, three more than the outgoing government had.
The increase means that a legislative change is required, something a government spokesperson said will be done “early on” in the lifetime of the Government. It’s understood this will be as early as next week.
The Independents involved in Government (The Regional Group and the Healy-Rae brothers) have also managed to secure a boost to expense allowances for those taking up junior and super-junior ministerial roles.
Opposition TDs have reacted with fury over the move.
As it stands, junior ministers receive the standard TD salary of €113,679 per year, plus an additional €45,846 for being a minister of state. Super-junior ministers (who sit at the Cabinet table) receive an additional €16,000 on top of this.
On top of this, as reported by the Irish Daily Mail yesterday, junior and super-junior ministers in Government are now set to benefit from an additional travel allowance worth up to €32,535 per year.
This allowance is currently only available to TDs, but a Government spokesperson told The Journal an agreement to review this rule is in place so that “people wouldn’t lose out by taking extra responsibilities”.
All in all, that means the incoming super junior ministers, so far confirmed to be Independents Noel Grealish and Seán Canney, will be in line for annual pay packages of circa €200,000.
The draft programme for government, which was published earlier this week, commits to re-establishing a minister of state for fisheries/marine. A government spokesperson said the two other additional junior ministers will have responsibility for migration and older people.
Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell called on the government to clarify its plans and said this is simply self interest from government TDs.
“A TD’s salary already places a recipient in the top 6% of income earners. When you add on the ministerial salary of circa €46,000 and super-junior allowance of €16,000, you go higher up the income distribution again.
“We don’t need more wastage of public funds arising from negotiations with parties and individuals who have no significant policy or ideological differences. This is just them looking after themselves,” the Galway West TD said.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said it seems as though the coalition discussions were focused “around how many jobs could be created for the boys”.
“On top of that, they have awarded all of their new junior ministers tens of thousands of euros extra in expenses. This is extremely grubby stroke politics,” he said.
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Keep voting folks! You’ll get it right next time! Next time will be different!
@Chop Chop: Who do you suggest we for?
@Vincent Alexander: He describes himself as ‘far-right’ … enough said.
@Vincent Alexander: I’d say a party that doesn’t facilitate a ham head like Healy and makes him a junior minister. The brother can barely string a sentence together.
@Vincent Alexander: Nobody. The system is broken and voting won’t fix anything. We need another revolution.
@Chop Chop: Its amazing too that they are all complaining about the healy rae cranks but seem to forget a criminal in michael lowry is gonna be involved too
All we need is bertie for president next year and the circle I mean circus will truly be complete
@Chop Chop: But the outcome of your ‘revolution’, as described previously, would be a different parliament elected by the same people. I don’t think you’ve thought it through. Perhaps you’d prefer a dictatorship?
@Chop Chop: Yup, thats where we are.
@Vincent Alexander: Would you for the love of whomever stop with your ” who should we vote for ” or “there’s no alternative” BS.. It’s beyond reductive you’re like a broken record and it’s beyond reductive. Is there no fibre of your being that is disgusted by the shady deals and pay rises they’re giving themselves up there in Leinster House ?
@Brian: * sounds like a scratch on my comment there * lol
@Brendan O’Brien: Simpy Chop Chop sounds like they’re not even of voting age! Mentally, anyway.
@Iano C: Imagine actually using the phrase “simpy chop chop” while accusing others of being immature. You sound like you’re 6 years old, mate. Now go on, shoo. Go and chew on your crayons or whatever you normally do. Silly child.
@Brendan O’Brien: Saw this and thought of herself https://youtu.be/TaV1r341wYk
@Chop Chop: Who is we?
@Chop Chop: My apologies, Simpy. Would you prefer Zuck-Hugger, perhaps? Or Musk-Fluffer? Wait, I know, Trump-Sucker it is!!!
@Gary Kearney: We is the plural for your chins hahahahahaha
@Iano C: Cringe
@Chop Chop: I think they’ve already made the movie, with Peter Sellers staring in Being There
@Brian: It’s easy to make snide remarks about the government but give an alternative instead of just the snide remark.
It’s great to see where half my wages are going. Keep it up lads well done…..
@Cormo R: So all tax revenue goes to pay TDs’ salaries.
@Dave f Doe: woke and work shy sounds like a great way to describe the new government. Huge gaps in attendance auditing the year and massive breaks over the summer.
@Dave f Doe: Woke and work shy. How very simplistic. Work shy, all those pensioners who worked all their life! They are workshy!!!
@Cormo R: it’s doing great things and as we move forward deeper into a housing crisis let’s invite the world in and expect houses for them to appear alongside the ones already in need of them and those who yet will be already here unable to keep up rent and mortgages. Best thing to do is when the water is overflowing in the bath turn on the second tap.
@Cormo R: it’s our own fault
I’m actually stunned by this, and shocked that we are accepting it. Funny thing is that much and all as I dislike the Shinners, they would not have done anything like this. We are a small country, yet we have more MPs/TDs than most other countries, we pay them way more than most other countries, and here they are making fools of us by creating Ministerial positions for the sake of it. Seriously do other countries even have Junior Ministers, never mind Super Duper Junior Ministers, it’s actually embarrassing, and I am ashamed of our so called democracy. A sad day for Ireland, and our political masters are laughing at us, as well as laughing all the way to the bank.
@The Firestarter: you are stunned by democracy and the law taking its course ?
@Hotirish: Democracy is defined as the will of the people. So I can’t imagine there are too many people out there who find it acceptable that we have so many ministers, junior ministers, super duper ministers, and all of the associated costs with these extra ministers. You’re obviously okay with this farce.
@The Firestarter: This is the will of the people- we voted them in
@Sean Hayes: It most certainty wasn’t the will of the people that once in power they would start creating extra ministerial positions for themselves or like the turncoats Healy-Raes, row back on their opposition to the carbon tax for more money for themselves.
@The Firestarter: You do not understand what Junior Ministers do or what a Super Junior Minister is.
Not surprising very few people posting here do!
Yes other countries have similar posts. Always have had.
@Gary Kearney: Where are you getting this notion that most people don’t understand what a Junior or Super Junior Minister does? Or the fact that similar roles are in place in other countries?
I think you’ll find the objections are based on the fact that extra roles are being created to fill the coffers of the so-called ‘independents’ in exchange for their support and the figures involved. Clearly, you’re happy that these new super junior ministers are earning more than Kier Starmer and Macron. Personally, I’m not.. nor are most people…
@The Firestarter: I totally agree with you. We accept this like a bunch of sheep. We should be out there in Marching and knocking on government doors. Putting them on industrial wages and letting them prove what they can do before they get any bonuses. They are there to do a job like everybody else they are not elites or royalty.
Milking us taxpayers. . . . .
@ian: Surprise, surprise!
@ian: Name a country that can run itself without people. ?
@ian: You’re right. I have very little time for the keyboard warriors who incessantly criticise politicians at both local and national level on internet forums. They’re all talk. This however cannot be defended. As a result of this 22% of all TDs bar the Ceann Comhairle are now ministers. 40% of all TDs in the three government groupings are now ministers. That is shocking and completely indefensible.
@ian: When Joe Biden was warning about the oligarchy of wealth who hold power, he forgot to mention our Mafia in Govt who put the Yanks in the halfpenny place, when it comes to pulling strokes & corrupt practices. All earning mega salaries & the Cost of Living they promised action on, now gone through the roof. Working families see no action, no hope & no light at the end of the tunnel, just our incoming Govt already dishing out mega increases in salaries to themselves. This country is goosed.
@Richard Ford: That’s FF/FG for you, jobs for the boys, f!ck the tax payers they don’t matter. Just keep supporting them for another hundred years, after all they are untitled to hold power. Gangsters the lot of them.
This is not what we voted for, jobs for the boys, pay, and pension rises. It’s now time for all smaller parties to come together, and by the time the next election comes around, to be ready to get these criminals
of office once and for all. And that includes the independents who are only looking after their own pockets and not the country.
@Andre Rafter: blah blah next time. The electorate had their chance and voted like sheep and therefore got exactly what they deserve. Fffg are emboldened this time around given their history of disasters yet voted in again.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: There’s too many smaller parties which gives too much choice, which means not enough votes can get them out. Voting is always local. If there’s too much choice it will never happen.
@Andre Rafter: SF was and option at one point t before they wrote themselves off. If they don’t rebuild and grow over the next years I expect we’re doomed to a fffg show the next 100 years.
I’m sorry, but the people who voted for these shower in ffg iv no words to describe you, we will be bankrupt in two years and have a recession like we have never seen before,
@N D K: And your proof of that is what exactly!
@Gary Kearney: look at the waste of money to start, inviting the world to come here to give them an own door house. While Our children are either leaving the country because they can’t buy or rent or if they do price starts at minimum 360k, where is the fairness and balance and sense in all this, do I even have to point it out all this crazy stuff is worse than the celtic tiger madness
@N D K: go away ya gobshh!te blame the people that didn’t vote, not the people who at least had the gumption to go out and vote.
Jobs for all their Wives Girlfriends/Boyfriends children friends etc
Circa 200k, get a grip. This does not include unvouched expenses, a security allowance of €25k, a phone allowance, or a subsidised bar, to name but a few. Do these shysters pay for anything, or do they just lob it all into their pension fund? It’s no wonder they walk away with mouthwatering payouts that only the ordinary working person could dream of.
Isn’t it great they can change legislation when it benefits themselves it’ll cost a fortune on paddy’s day when they will all be jetting off
Absolutely no corruption going on here. Both to see! Move along folks.
It’s worse than you think.
The Healy Raes were on youtube recently, telling followers of the “religionofpeace” in a mosque, that they, “religionofpeace”, were the future of Ireland.
Doing anything for votes, has just taken an incredibly traitorous turn.
And theres people on here wondering why so many dont vote or have no interest in politics
I mean its literally a gravy boat that will never sink but will be loaded with bank account fattened passengers and the taxpayers will pay and get very little in return
Gravy train continues to spiral out of control
200k?! But what about a Summer recess allowance? That should be at least another 15k to ensure sufficient money available to be spent during summer holidays
What’s the point of you don’t line your pocket as much as possible coming in and out!
@Dave f Doe: No
@Dave f Doe: No!
@Dave f Doe: FRO.
… and then state is warning about pension payment shortages in the near future… Should start with themselves and cut those benefits to a fair level based on what they actually did during their term. Every employee is judged on past performance, some of the government ministers and TDs probably would have to pay instead of receiving a pension
We will probably have minor ministers at the next election, sounds better in anyway.
@Derek Poutch: and intermediate as well sure they all might as well be minister’s at this stage who cares anymore
@Derek Poutch: And under all this expenditure are their advisers salaries, the ones who tell them what to say and do all the work!!
A bigger, deeper trough is required for all the extra snouts. The OPW can waste another half million there.
A complete joke of a government we have same old same old for another 5 years
Shinners abused the public purse for years by drawing Assembly salaries when the Assembly was not sitting.
We really are the dumbest nation.
@Comments Section Closed: Never ceases to amaze me the amount scorned SF supporters who hadn’t a clue that they’ve been a very pro immigration party for decades.. and yet when an incompetent government made up of FFG oversee and exacerbate an immigration crisis, they still find time to point the finger at the party that weren’t in power..
@Comments Section Closed: did you only see ff and fg on the ballot?
@Brian: who’s said I was sf? I didn’t vote sf.
@Brian: and pro immigration is one thing its the illegal immigration the Irish people have a problem with.
Haha – all these keyboard warriors always recommending Indo’s – look what you did!
@smatrix mantra: yeah look what we did…we replaced the Greens.. a great day’s work in many (sorry, most) peoples opinion!!!
Imagine having to listen to the likes of Hazel Chu for 5 years…ugh!!
@Finn Barr: She is runn9ing for the Seanad and they have a lot of councillors.
I think somebody should talk to her about trying to tun in every election she can.
It’s a high salary no doubt, however it’s a pittance in the greater scheme of things. I’d much prefer if the ministers (and TD’s, both government and opposition) controlled the massive increase in expenditure across all departments. We’ve seen a large increase in spending without the corresponding increase in service delivery.
@The next small thing: Getting control of the civil service and its costs has always been a major problem.
As the old civil service joke goes “parliaments come and go, the civil service lasts forever”.
Getting accountability at least on paper is a start!
Living abroad and coming home with the knowledge that Ireland is one of the richest countries, I am often confused as to why most of my friends, most of them professional, have such poor quality of life compared to me who earns a lot less. You’re being conned, lads.
Dick Turpin wore a mask
I’m just sick of these politicians lining their own pockets. I feckn work hard and if I don’t have a receipt for the few small bits I’m allowed I get nothing. It’s just outrageous what they are now being paid and to add insult to injury they give themselves more by way of expenses.
With all the waste in this count over the years and especially the last few …children’s hospital being example and bike shed and security hut you would think the politicians would not try and kick us the tax payer and more . Oh no ….they just landed us with a bigger kick in the arse
Greatest pair of T.w/a.ts ever!
Legislation to increase numbers of ministers of state introduced quickly. Amazing how this can happen so quickly but necessary things that will benefit the public takes ages….
So the HealyRs. have now decided that they have not any problem with carbon tax.
One day i envision a political party that seeks to bridge the divide between traditional left and right ideologies by incorporating a variety of perspectives. This approach would promote a more balanced and pragmatic solution, to societal issues, appealing to those who feel disillusioned by extreme positions on either end of the spectrum.
@SirMr: That’s exactly what FF and FG are
@Sean Hayes: Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil may identify as centrist for their historical context, but policy positions, coalition politics, and responses to social issues contribute to the perception that they do not fully embody a centrist ideology in the current political landscape.
@SirMr: Will you play a part in such a political party when it comes and for sure it will come.
@David Murray: I would only use the information to inside trade stocks.
No word of this when canvassing.
Ireland is number one in the world and telling the world we are the number one.
Imagine if you come here from a modern 1st world country with metros, high rises, efficient services. It’d be like stepping 400 years in the past.
Oh well. Long live FF and FG forever.
The picture there says it all. For those that didn’t vote no point in complaining. This is what we got now. The choices weren’t great but now the government is making its own rules up with nice pay days. Yet they want to stop groups that give food to the homeless because it’s outside the GPO. What are we doing here.
If the Healy Reas would be decent and remove the caps while in the Dail I’d have a bit more respect for them.
By all accounts MHR brings his own sambos to work as he won’t pay for the food even though it’s heavily subsidised
It’s only us sheep who allow this to happen, we let them pay themselves massive wages for doing absolutely nothing only destroying a country why we sit here and comment on the journal and give out to each other while they are all laughing to the bank. We don’t need a massive amount of minister’s junior ministers and all these donkeys we need drastic change.
“Politicians and bureaucrats will always seek to expand their own power and budgets. The growth of government is not a response to the needs of society but to the incentives of those in power” – James M. Buchanan. Government always grows so I don’t know why people are so surprised at this. The majority of people voted for a big government that taxes and spends. One of the byproducts of this is that the size of the bureaucracy within the state will always expand too. Of course more and more politicians are going to get bumper pay increases and extra cabinet positions to top up their egos, who’s stopping it from happening? Unless useless government departments are abolished, the number of ministers manning them is going to continually increase like we see here.
How on earth can this government just keep creating these jobs and paying these types of salary s
Dirty deeds and they’re done dirt cheap.
Politics in Ireland is rotten to the core. FFG are in it to serve themselves rather than the country and it’s people. It happens over and over but people keep voting FFG.
They say the massive pay packages are so they can attract well educated top talent from the private sector to government jobs.
The current leader of FG never even went to college.. Martin was a teacher (given his poisonous and vengeful personality he probably wasn’t even good at that job). I dunno where all this top talent they’re talking about is.
Can’t wait to get out of this country.
Sick to death these clowns lining their pockets.
No matter how many comments made.
They still go on and on.
@Peter Calvey: Can I come too??
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