Cowen’s frontline team bigger than Barroso’s

THERE are now no fewer than 35 ministers of various rank in the Government appointed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Should he not adopt some of his own thinking on this matter as he asserted during the Lisbon Treaty campaign.

He told us then that 27 EU commissioners for 27 member states was too many.

Is there not more than a little bit of irony in claiming that José Manuel Barroso’s team of 27 of commissioners for a union of states with a combined population of €496 million was too many when he had just appointed 35 ministers for a population of approximately €4.2m.

And in these times when there are calls from the same quarters for us to tighten our belts, is it absolutely necessary to have 20 junior ministers?

As the Government starts to implement staff cutbacks in necessary public services, is Mr Cowen satisfied we are getting value for money from all these men and women in Mercs? Not to mention the transport costs and carbon emissions.

Cllr Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin (SF)

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