The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has asked all 20 Ministers of State to resign on April 21. This is so that he can re-appoint a reduced number of junior ministers the following day, when the Dáil resumes after the Easter recess.
Mr Cowen will consider how many Ministers of State are needed, and what their roles will be, and he will re-appoint 15.
Mr Cowen met the current junior ministers today to discuss this with them. 'It was agreed that there is a need to restructure the way that Government does its business to ensure it is more effective and delivers best value to the taxpayer,' a statement after the meeting said.
