Eamon’s halo in need of a polish

MINISTERS of State and the state of some ministers was the talk of Leinster House yesterday as the junior rung of government was announced.

After insisting at the election they would slash the Bertie-era jobs for the boys bubble of 15 mini- minister posts to just 12, Fine Gael decided this was one part of the public sector that did not need ruthless job cutting after all.

The Fine Gaelers insisted the situation had changed “in negotiations” for coalition government, but Labour said they knew nothing about it.