'Jobs for the boys' bill' paves way for junior ministers to take up roles

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs in the Dáil chamber. The first piece of legislation the Government has passed paves the way for a record number of junior ministers.

The Government has been accused of a "stroke" as the first piece of legislation it passed paves the way for a record number of junior ministers in what was called a "jobs for the boys bill".

TDs on Wednesday voted to pass the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025 by a margin of 92 to 72, allowing for the final three junior ministers who were announced last month  — Timmy Dooley, Colm Brophy, and Marian Harkin — to officially take up their roles.