Taoiseach Brian Cowen has denied he is under pressure from Fianna Fáil TDs not to concede an extra junior minister to the Green Party in the Cabinet reshuffle this week.
“There is no pressure in any way. We've been having political discussions and we'll be making our decisions public,” he said.
Asked if issues with the Greens had been resolved, Mr Cowen said: “There are no issues to be resolved”. The Taoiseach said any decision about Cabinet appointments was his prerogative.
He said decisions about the Cabinet reshuffle would be made this week but would not confirm the announcement would be made tomorrow. Asked about the President's absence from the country, Mr Cowen said arrangements were in place.
Mr Cowen was speaking in Blanchardstown, Dublin, where he announced 150 new jobs at eBay headquarters.
Mr Cowen and Green Party leader John Gormley will have further discussions on a Cabinet reshuffle today, with the junior Coalition party continuing to insist on an extra junior Minister.
The Taoiseach has been under pressure from his TDs in Fianna Fáil not to concede. They claim the reduction in the number of junior Ministers from 20 to 15 last year, which was sought by the Greens, nullified any deal about an extra post.
Mr Cowen and Mr Gormley met on Saturday to discuss all aspects of the reshuffle. They will talk again today ahead of the expected announcement in the Dáil tomorrow.
The Greens are adamant the 2007 commitment by Bertie Ahern to give them an extra junior Minister half way through the life of the Coalition must be honoured.
Speaking today, Mr Gormley refused to be drawn on the reshuffle. "This speculation has continued now for weeks . . . and I hope he [Mr Cowen] will be in a position to end the speculation as soon as possible.
"I do know he wants to see matters move on as quickly as possible, and I think it's very important that happens as people want to see the Government taking action on the most serious problem facing us, which is the unemployment and the economy."
Mr Gormley said he would not comment on speculation surrounding the rotating ministry proposal.
