Cowen doles out sweeteners to sacked ministers

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has given consolation prizes of almost €20,000 apiece to the three junior ministers he sacked last month.

Cork East TD Michael Ahern, Donegal South-West TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher and Wexford TD John Browne were all appointed to chairs of Oireachtas committees yesterday. Each of these positions is worth an extra €19,058 a year on top of salary. All three receive approximately €101,000 a year in basic salary as TDs, meaning each will now earn €121,000 a year in total.

Mr Cowen had room to manoeuvre because he had appointed some of the existing committee chairs to junior ministries when he announced his reshuffle.

As a result, newly appointed housing minister Michael Finneran vacates his position as chairman of the committee on finance and the public service and is replaced by Mr Ahern.

Junior arts minister Martin Mansergh is replaced by Cork South-Central TD Michael McGrath as vice-chairman of the same committee.

Newly appointed Children’s Minister Barry Andrews is replaced by Mr Browne as chairman of the joint administration committee. Mr Gallagher replaces MJ Nolan as chairman of the committee on arts, sport, tourism, community, rural and gaeltacht affairs.

Mr Nolan, in turn, is replacing John Cregan as chairman of the committee on communications, energy and natural resources.

Mr Cregan has been appointed deputy Government whip. Junior health minister John Moloney is replaced by Sean Ó Fearghaíl as chairman of the committee on health and children.

Junior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Peter Power, is replaced as chairman of the committee on justice, equality, defence and women’s rights by Brendan Kenneally who, in turn, is replaced as vice-chairman of the committee of public accounts by Darragh O’Brien.

The role of vice-chair earns the holder an additional €9,747 a year.