TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen is expected to make significant changes amongst Ministers of State today, along with wide-ranging changes in their duties, it was believed last night.
Tipperary South TD Martin Mansergh and Mr Cowen's Laois/Offaly colleague John Moloney are now strongly tipped for promotion, with the latter expected to take over Batt O'Keeffe's old role as minister of state for housing.
Late last night, there were considerable doubts about the position of long-serving Minister of State Michael Ahern, and Wexford's John Browne, along with continuing speculation about Sligo's Jimmy Devins.
Fianna Fáil Ministers of State were ordered by Mr Cowen to be at their offices in Leinster House from 3pm yesterday, though some of them did not get in to see him until nearly 10pm last night.
During 30-minute individual meetings with his junior Ministers, the Taoiseach questioned some of them about their performance, and spoke about other positions that might be on offer.
A number of them left the meetings believing they were reasonably safe in the upcoming shake-up. They had little idea of what portfolio they would hold if they do survive the shake-up, sources told The Irish Times. Under legislation, the position of Minister of State - while decided by the Taoiseach - must be rubber-stamped by the Cabinet before being announced to the Dáil.
Many of the juniors were left waiting in their offices for seven hours before being called in and a number of those who had been in to see Mr Cowen left Leinster House without speaking to other colleagues, sources said last night.
Backbench Fianna Fáil TDs have believed all week that Mr Cowen would make significant changes amongst his Ministers of State when the appointments are announced to the Dáil this afternoon.
Expectations of a major shake-up have been increased by his decision to promote Dún Laoghaire TD Barry Andrews to be Minster of State for Children, a job that comes with a seat at the Cabinet.
The Taoiseach has three junior vacancies to fill following his promotion last week of Mr O'Keeffe and Brendan Smith to Cabinet, and the elevation of Pat Carey to Government Chief Whip in place of Tom Kitt. A number of existing Ministers of State are understood to be extremely unhappy that they have become the focus of speculation amongst journalists and fellow TDs over recent days, some TDs said last night.
The issue now is whether Mr Cowen will opt to make deeper changes, or whether he will put many of the junior ranks on a year's warning, and leave the option of sacking open until after the local and European Parliament elections.
If Mr Cowen opts to sack people, Donegal North East's Niall Blaney, who attended the weekend celebrations in Offaly for Cowen's promotion, Limerick TD, John Cregan and Roscommon/South Leitrim's Michael Finneran are likely to benefit.
Promotions for Mr Cregan, Mr Finneran and Mr Moloney, who all chair Oireachtas committees, would mean that Mr Cowen would have the committee positions to offer to disgruntled ex-juniors.
Ministers of State Jimmy Devins, Mary Wallace, Pat "The Cope" Gallagher and Michael Ahern are amongst those who could suffer in a more radical shake-up - though it must be emphasised that the Taoiseach has kep his counsel.
