He boasts that his department, exceptionally in austerity Whitehall, has increased its number of ministers from four to six.
The fall in the price of oil leading to an austerity budget has increased the incentive to beat the patriotic and religious drum in order to promote national solidarity in face of growing challenges.
Few would contest that the UK government's austerity policy has increased job losses, and indeed, one of its core aims has been to achieve large scale reductions in public sector employment.
As part of its programme of austerity measures, the Portuguese government has increased the nation's sales tax, known as IVA, on some food products.
The number of people working in the sex industry has increased since 2010, as austerity policies like benefit sanctions pushed more people into poverty.
In truth, Tory austerity policies have increased the disadvantages faced by people from these communities.
Paradoxically, says Mr Meirás, government austerity programmes have increased demand because private firms can do such jobs more cheaply.
Others questioned a crackdown on people who are trying to survive in the face of austerity policies which have increased poverty and therefore prostitution.
Austerity has just increased their deficit, and put them in danger of losing their AAA rating, said the New York Times' Adam Davidson.
