Taoiseach 'misled Dáil' about State jobs

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has accused the Taoiseach of "misleading the Dáil" on pre-election appointments to State boards…

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has accused the Taoiseach of "misleading the Dáil" on pre-election appointments to State boards. He has called on Bertie Ahern to instruct his Ministers to refrain from filling vacancies during that period.

Commenting on a report in The Irish Timesyesterday that more than 400 public appointments would be made by the end of May, Mr Sargent said the Taoiseach had told him in the Dáil last February that he did not approve of "packing" State boards at the end of a government's term of office.

"He seemed to indicate that it would not happen this year. Despite this assurance, it seems now that he was misleading the Dáil.

"His Ministers are set to nominate and make 400 appointments to State bodies in the coming six weeks," Mr Sargent alleged.

Deaglán  De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún, a former Irish Times journalist, is a contributor to the newspaper