Prominent Dublin Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ardagh said yesterday that he felt "hard done by" because he was not promoted to one of the junior ministries announced by the Taoiseach on Wednesday.
He said he was particularly disappointed because he had consistently defended the Government, whereas others who had done the opposite had been promoted.
"I feel I've been loyal to the Taoiseach over the last period of time and I've always gone out to bat for the Taoiseach, for Fianna Fáil, for the Government, even when it wasn't the most popular thing to do and even when other people who were appointed junior Ministers have done the opposite.
"I feel hard done by. I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed for the constituency primarily and I'd like to know the reasons behind it and I'd hope I will have a very amicable meeting with the Taoiseach early next week to discuss these matters," Mr Ardagh, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Justice, told Eamon Keane on Newstalk radio yesterday.
Galway West TD Frank Fahey also expressed disappointment at being dropped as a junior minister, but he said he did not think the charges levelled against him by former Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, over his business affairs was a factor in the decision, as he had been cleared by the Standards in Public Office Commission of all these charges.
Mr Ardagh said he was not the only disappointed Fianna Fáil TD. "I'm not the only one of course who feels they have legitimate expectations. Seán Fleming is another colleague of mine who has been two terms in the Dáil and who has at all times worked very well as chair of the finance committee and has always batted for the Government as well."
Mr Ardagh also criticised the geographical imbalance of ministerial appointments: "Dublin North West TD Pat Carey is a very good friend of mine. There are of course only four Ministers in total on the northside and there are three in one constituency adjacent to mine at the moment and that is socially and economically at the other end of the spectrum altogether. Where the needs are, we don't have a Minister. The constituency as such is very disappointed." Mr Ardagh, who represents Dublin South Central, was referring to the fact that the more prosperous constituency of Dublin South has two Ministers, Séamus Brennan and Eamon Ryan, and Government Chief Whip, Tom Kitt.
He said he would like to hear an explanation from Mr Ahern about why he had not been appointed and whether there was some way it could be rectified.
