President signs law expanding number of junior ministers amid ‘jobs for the boys’ criticism

President Higgins signs a law increasing junior ministers to a record 23, sparking criticism from opposition leaders

President Higgins signed the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Friday. Picture: Maxwells

There are now a record number of junior ministers serving in Government, as President Michael D Higgins formally signs laws to increase their ranks to 23.

President Higgins signed the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Friday, which adds three additional junior ministers.

The new laws allow for the final three junior ministers who were announced last month – Timmy Dooley, Colm Brophy and Marian Harkin – to formally take up their roles.

The legislation itself was passed in the Dáil earlier this month, with 92 votes in favour to 72 against.

It had been criticised by the opposition as being a “jobs for the boys” bill, with Labour’s Ged Nash describing the increase in ministerial posts as “unprecedented”.

Sinn Féin's Mairéad Farrell previously called the bill a "subversion of the Constitution" and a "function of coalition talks".

"The Government now proposes to create more office holders via ministers of state, so-called junior ministers. All this is about is more deals, more mercs and more perks."

Defending the Government's approach, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers previously said the increased number "achieves the whole-of-Government approach we are trying to implement".