Play
Coveney 'did not recall' Cabinet debate on junior ministers' pay
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said he did not know a Cabinet meeting he attended signed off on legislation that will increase the number of ministers of State who are entitled to a €16,000 allowance.
Mr Coveney said he "did not recall" the Cabinet debate which cleared the way for the Government to pay three rather than two super junior ministers the extra payment.
"I don't know is the answer. That's legislation I haven't seen, I haven't spoken about, haven't debated," he said.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed Minister Michael McGrath brought the legislation to pave the way for the pay increases to Cabinet yesterday evening. Once passed by the Dáil, ministers of State Hildegarde Naughton and Pippa Hackett, along with Chief Whip Jack Chambers, will all receive the pay increase for juniors who sit at Cabinet. Ms Hackett is a senator while the other two are TDs.
The Green Party did not respond to requests for comment on whether Ms Hackett believed it to be appropriate for a senator to seek an additional pay increase after receiving a €38,000 allowance on being appointed to Cabinet.
Fianna Fáil stopped former higher education minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor from receiving the pay increase in the last Dáil.
Most Watched
Play
Play
Play
Play
Play
Latest Politics
- Senan Molony Opinion As a neutral country, Ireland is now more isolated internationally than ever before
- Taoiseach signals backing for second Scottish independence referendum to be held
- Taoiseach denies Madrid meeting with EU and Nato members chips away at Ireland’s neutrality
- ‘People are one bill away from going over the edge’ – Mary Lou McDonald says emergency budget needed to help those on the brink
- New bill to allow councillors take maternity leave – but TDs and senators need Constitutional change
Most Read
- Taoiseach denies Madrid meeting with EU and Nato members chips away at Ireland’s neutrality
- Worries over Dublin Airport queues hitting 1,000 political VIPs at Taoiseach’s EU shindig
- Leo Varadkar confident he could secure a Yes vote for Ireland to join EU army
- ‘People are one bill away from going over the edge’ – Mary Lou McDonald says emergency budget needed to help those on the brink
- Child passport applications will no longer be cancelled if witnessing garda can’t be contacted
Latest
- Séamus Power hopes his home Irish Open dream can come true
- Cian Tracey Opinion Young Ireland team learn why New Zealand is the land of the ruthless
- Deloitte has earned €347,000 for work on Stobart Air liquidation
- Irish M&A deal value drops sharply but deal flow holds
- Editorial Opinion A second coming of Donald Trump is still a dark possibility