Gilmore delays decision on ‘super-junior’ role in bid to avoid further rebellion

EMBATTLED Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is delaying the replacement of walk-out minister Willie Penrose in order to try and head-off further budget rebellions.

The Tánaiste will not name a replacement for the Housing Minister who occupied the “super-junior” role at Cabinet until after the December 6 crunch financial statement.

A meeting of Labour TDs and senators was told the move would emerge “in the next couple of weeks”, which many took as a signal the leadership was trying to keep troops in line ahead of the grim budget which will usher in €3.8 billion worth of extra spending cuts and tax hikes.