The Green Party has called for a reduction in the number of junior ministers by at least three to cut costs.
The party's chairman, Senator Dan Boyle, has also proposed that the expenses deal enjoyed by TDs and senators should be overhauled.
Speaking on RTÉ Morning Ireland, Senator Boyle said cutting the number of junior ministers would send the right signal to the public.
'The cost savings will not be huge, and the work allocations would have to be given to a smaller number of people, but the reality is that we live in different economic times,' Mr Boyle said.
'A signal has to be made both within politics in general and within the structures of government that'll make people understand that these are changes being made across the board.'
