Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What is the basis for these additional ministerial posts? I listened to the Minister and Deputy Gallagher earlier and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in recent days trying to justify the creation of these posts and quite frankly these justifications amount to a poor excuse, dressed up as policy to facilitate a shabby deal with the Regional Independent Group. The new posts are being created, effectively, to keep the Regional Independent Group sweet. Anyone who looks at the situation is clearly of the view that there is no objective justification for these posts. I know from speaking to Government backbenchers, that many accept and complain that the Regional Independent Group got too much out of this agreement. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, told us all earlier how he and his brother, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, were intimately involved in the negotiations for the programme for Government. It was quite clear that one of these ministerial posts is payback for their support for the Government and into the bargain, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae also wants to sit on the Opposition benches.

There are also legal issues with these appointments, something which has been referred to by other speakers, in particular, the number of ministerial posts provided for in Bunreacht na hÉireann and the question of Cabinet confidentiality. These issues are before the courts and will be decided by the courts. It is to be hoped they will be decided shortly.

The cost of the new posts has also been referenced. It appears that the cost of one of these posts is approximately €500,000 per year, and requires €1.5 million in additional funding for a year and €7.5 million over the term of the Dáil. Another question that arises, which was raised by Deputy Murphy, is the bulldozing of all sections of the Bill through the House this evening and the use of the guillotine. That is wholly undemocratic and I am opposed to the Bill.

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