New junior posts will top €1.2m, says Gilmore

THE cost of creating three new junior minister posts will top €1.2 million a year, Labour insisted last night.

The controversial government shake-up has provoked anger. Opposition parties have branded it expensive “vanity politics” by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, designed to placate Fianna Fáil backbenchers unhappy about senior Cabinet posts going to the Greens.

Labour environment spokesman Eamon Gilmore said staff costs alone for the trio of new ministers — taking the second tier total to 20 — will average €445,000 each.