Ardagh ‘hard done by’ in Government shake-up

A LEADING Fianna Fáil backbencher last night attacked Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for not giving him a Government job while promoting less loyal TDs.

Dublin deputy and outgoing chair of the Dáil justice committee, Sean Ardagh, said he felt “hard done by” after Mr Ahern’s controversial shake-up of junior ministerial ranks.

“I feel I’ve been loyal to the Taoiseach over the last period of time and I’ve always gone out to bat for the Taoiseach, even when it wasn’t the most popular thing to do and even when other people who were appointed junior ministers have done the opposite.

“I’m disappointed for the constituency primarily. I’d like to know the reasons behind it,” he told Newstalk.

Mr Ahern drew opposition fire over the Government shake-up by creating three extra junior posts, which it is estimated will each cost taxpayers some €600,000 a year when the cost of their appointments and offices are added to annual salaries of €147,000.

The move was seen as a way to placate backbench discontent that two senior Cabinet posts had been given to the Greens even though FF did not need the party in coalition to give it a Dáil majority.

The row came as sacked minister Frank Fahey rejected claims his demotion was related to charges levelled against him by outgoing Green leader Trevor Sargent, regarding his business interests. The Galway West TD said he was surprised by the decision and that he had been cleared by the Standards in Public Office Commission of all allegations made against him.

Mr Ardagh said other colleagues were also upset and that he would tell the Taoiseach so at a meeting next week. “I want an explanation of his thinking in the matter and how it turned out that I wasn’t appointed and if there is some way it can be rectified.”