Minister who hit out at civil servant numbers has 10 staff

JUNIOR Enterprise Minister John McGuinness was accused of “hypocrisy” yesterday when it emerged he had 10 staff working in his constituency and private offices despite his recent attack on the civil service.

Mr McGuinness said last week it was “madness” that the public service continues to employ staff “adding more and more people who are almost impossible to let go, and who will in due course be getting inflation-proof salaries and pensions”.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore told the Dáil yesterday that Mr McGuinness employs 10 staff in his constituency and private offices at a cost of almost €70,000 a year.