Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, speaking in parliament yesterday, said he believes that combining several ministries could save about 350 million ISK in government spending.
As reported, cabinet officials proposed merging the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs into one ministry and combining the ministries of agriculture, industry and fishing into a Ministry of Employment. Steingrímur believes this will generate savings in the reduction of management alone.
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir told parliament she hopes the matter can be taken up as soon as possible. Opposition parties voiced outrage that they weren’t included in the merging negotiations.
Sources close to Eyjan report that not everybody within the Leftist-Greens is happy with the idea, either. Some would rather see former Minister of Health Ögmundur Jónasson return to office, and would rather not see current Minister of Fishing and Agriculture Jón Bjarnason lose his position.