The government has failed reply to questions posed by former minister Jesmond Mugliett over the pay rises awarded to ministers in May 2008.

Mr Mugliett last week voted against a Labour Party motion criticising the “insensitive, arbitrary and non-transparent” behaviour of Cabinet over the issue.

But he issued a press statement just before the vote, explaining his reservations about supporting the government on this issue.

Saying he did not want to destabilise the government during a historically import-ant moment, he took the opportunity to publicly raise ques-tions which had remained unanswered.

He asked why the decisions taken in May 2008 were not communicated to MPs, the public and the opposition until late 2010, when they were revealed through aparliamentary question.

“It is said that the Speaker of the day was meant to communicate the decision but did not because of certain circumstances and changes in the Labour Party leadership. I am still not convinced of this part of the story and I think the government is responsible for clarifying this shortcoming so as not to repeat the same mistakes,” Mr Mugliett wrote in his statement.

The former transport minister also added another question, whereby he called on the Prime Minister to elaborate on what he told his parliamentary group a few days before the vote that there was an “administrative error” which resulted in ministers getting a raise in their MP honorarium before other MPs.

The Sunday Times sent these two questions to the Office of the Prime Minister last Monday but no replies were forthcoming by the time of going to press, despite repeated requests and reminders.

When contacted, Mr Mugliett said he was not surprised by the lack of response and confirmed that he did not receive any replies either.

“I already put those questions in parliamentary groups and you don’t get the answers... On those two points, I don’t think they seem to want to reply. It’s going to remain a mystery.”

He said someone must know the exact sequence of how the pay rise came about.

In brief

In May 2008, Cabinet decided the Prime Minister, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, Speakerand opposition leader should keep the honorarium givento MPs, which they alsodecided to raise to €26,700 from €19,100.

The decision was only made public late in 2010, when it was also revealed that while the changes were implemented immediately for Cabinet members, other MPs had remained on the old rates.

Ministers eventually reverted to the old rate and a decision was taken to refund the difference – while any changes to the honoraria were put on hold.