WATERFORD last senior minister at Cabinet Martin Cullen has been speaking on 'Deise Today' this morning (Friday) about FF's Mary Butler being named as Government Chief Whip and new Super Junior Minister.

In one of his most revealing and frank interviews since leaving politics, Martin Cullen - who exited Cabinet in 2010 - said while it's a "great honour" for Mary Butler, the Whip position is a "very stressful", "demanding" and "consuming" seven-day-a-week job.

The former Waterford TD - who held four senior ministries in his day and was also a Minister of State at the Dept of Finance - told Damien Tiernan he was surprised himself that Mary Butler did not get a senior ministry in the new Government as had been heavily speculated, saying he felt she may have been on track but "something changed" in recent weeks, possibly due to pressures the Taoiseach might have come under in other areas.

Martin Cullen also revealed he previously declined the Whip position himself during his own earlier days in senior politics, insisting he got a senior ministry instead, a position "nothing else compared" to.

He said he didn't want, at the time, to have been 'left going down a road' where he would have been "neutered".

Regarding Waterford now getting it's "fair share" going forward on issues such as the hospital and the airport, he said it was "going to be difficult" and Mary Butler would have to "play her cards very carefully".

He also did say he was "very hopeful" that FG's John Cummins would be appointed a Minister of State next week - and stated his belief that the new FG TD was very capable and had a strong career in senior politics ahead.

You can listen back to Martin Cullen's revealing interview with Damien by clicking on the image above....