FG attack Government over civil service appointments

Fine Gael has launched a scathing attack on the Government for its decision to appoint friends and allies to key civil service positions before the end of the last Government.

Deputy Denis Naughten singles out five ministers in the previous Government who had handed out almost 60 important state posts to their supporters just days before the Taoiseach called a general election and ended the Dail.

All five ministers, including former Ministers for Justice and Law Reform and Social, Community and Family Affairs John O’Donoghue and Dermot Ahern, have since moved to other cabinet posts or have dropped down to the backbenches.

Mr Naughten believes that these appointments are typical of the Fianna Fail party and accused the ministers of appointing people who were not fit for the job simply because of who they knew.