Comments on: Do we have too many Ministers? http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/ daithí mac sithigh's blog on cyberlaw & media law Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:57:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: cearta.ie » Blog Archive » This is ‘Say No to Ageism’ Week 2007 - II http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-1005 cearta.ie » Blog Archive » This is ‘Say No to Ageism’ Week 2007 - II Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:09:04 +0000 http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-1005 [...] of Justice, Equality and Law Reform). At present, legislation provides for [only / as many as - choose as appropriate] 17 Ministers of State, but yesterday’s announcement brings that number up to 20, which means [...] [...] of Justice, Equality and Law Reform). At present, legislation provides for [only / as many as - choose as appropriate] 17 Ministers of State, but yesterday’s announcement brings that number up to 20, which means [...]

]]> By: Keith http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-965 Keith Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:42:18 +0000 http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-965 Direct proportionality can't be used of course. You have to calculate that we need 15 people who are of cabinet level qualifications, 15 who can be the lead opposition person, who need the same level of skill (=30). Then I think most people will accept the need for 15 junior ministers, so you need another 15 opposition equivalents (=60). Now, add in the need for people capable of being committee chairs, 8, plus opposition capability to take that role, 8 (=76). Now, double that because you'll be very lucky if you can get one in two politicians who are capable of doing any of those jobs, and you get 152. Plus Chairman & Deputy Chair is 154. Not too far from what we have now. Basically, I would propose a formula: <b>((m+j+c)*2)+2=MP</b> <i>Where m is the number of ministers, j is the number of junior ministers, c is the number of committee chairs and MP is the number of MPs required</i> The variables are not population or size of the country, they are the number of Ministers required to adequately run a country. Regardless of country size, you only need one Finance Minister (although in a really big country you might need two juniors to him/her). Direct proportionality can’t be used of course. You have to calculate that we need 15 people who are of cabinet level qualifications, 15 who can be the lead opposition person, who need the same level of skill (=30). Then I think most people will accept the need for 15 junior ministers, so you need another 15 opposition equivalents (=60). Now, add in the need for people capable of being committee chairs, 8, plus opposition capability to take that role, 8 (=76).
Now, double that because you’ll be very lucky if you can get one in two politicians who are capable of doing any of those jobs, and you get 152. Plus Chairman & Deputy Chair is 154.
Not too far from what we have now.
Basically, I would propose a formula:
((m+j+c)*2)+2=MP
Where m is the number of ministers, j is the number of junior ministers, c is the number of committee chairs and MP is the number of MPs required

The variables are not population or size of the country, they are the number of Ministers required to adequately run a country. Regardless of country size, you only need one Finance Minister (although in a really big country you might need two juniors to him/her).

]]> By: Ross http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-949 Ross Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:18:57 +0000 http://www.lexferenda.com/18062007/do-we-have-too-many-ministers/#comment-949 Many hands make light work! :) Many hands make light work! :)

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