Disgruntled TDs likely to be given committee chair consolations

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is expected to give most of the top Oireachtas committee chairs to disgruntled backbenchers who were passed over for ministerial and junior ministerial posts.

Mr Ahern will announce the appointments, which carry an annual salary of 15,000 plus expenses, when the Dáil returns next week.

The Taoiseach built up an expectation among backbenchers after the general election that there would be a major change in the ministerial ranks at their first parliamentary party meeting.