There is ongoing speculation among Government backbenchers about who will fill the coveted appointments to Oireachtas committees. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has delayed making the appointments until next month.
Following the announcement of his Seanad 11 last week, it is Mr Ahern's last act of patronage before the Dáil resumes for what is likely to be a highly-charged autumn session in late September.
The chair of an Oireachtas committee gets an additional allowance of €19,058, while the vice-chair receives €9,747. A committee whip gets €6,072. Strong favourites for a chair are Frank Fahey, Galway West, and Noel Treacy, Galway East, who lost their junior ministerial posts.
The prestigious chair of the foreign affairs committee, which was held during the last Dáil by former minister and veteran TD for Dublin North West, Dr Michael Woods, could go to Mr Treacy. He is a former minister of state for foreign affairs.
Another contender is Dublin South Central's Seán Ardagh who, it is universally agreed, should have been given a junior ministry. Alternatively, Mr Ardagh may retain the chair of the justice committee, or be a Fianna Fáil member of the Oireachtas Commission which runs the Houses of the Oireachtas.
There is also speculation it may go to newly-elected TD for Tipperary South, Dr Martin Mansergh. While Mr Ahern believes first-time TDs have to serve an apprenticeship on the backbenches, Dr Mansergh has been an adviser to successive Fianna Fáil leaders and taoisigh for more than 25 years.
There is a vacancy in the chair of the transport committee, which gained in importance in the last Dáil, because its outgoing chairman, John Ellis, lost his Roscommon-South Leitrim Dáil seat and is now in the Seanad. This could go to the outgoing vice-chairman, Limerick East's Peter Power.
Meath West's Johnny Brady is likely to remain as chairman of the agriculture committee, while Longford-Westmeath's Peter Kelly could get the chair of the arts, sport, tourism, community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs committee, which he served on in the last Dáil.
Cork North West's Michael Moynihan, in education and science, Limerick West's John Cregan, in environment, John Moloney and Seán Fleming, Laois-Offaly, in health and finance respectively, are expected to retain their positions as chairmen or be moved elsewhere.
The chair of the enterprise and small business committee, vacant due to the defeat of Donie Cassidy, now leader of the Seanad, could go to Carlow-Kilkenny's MJ Nolan or Cork East's Ned O'Keeffe. The chair of the committee on the Constitution could go to Dublin South Central TD and barrister Michael Mulcahy.
Others in the running for committee promotions include Eamon Scanlon, Sligo-North Leitrim; Michael Finneran, Roscommon-South Leitrim; Seán Ó Fearghail, Kildare North; Barry Andrews, Dún Laoghaire; Niall Blaney, Donegal North East, Charlie O'Connor, Dublin South West and Tom McEllistrim, Kerry North.
John Curran, Dublin Mid-West, is expected to be assistant Government whip.
As is the tradition, the chair of the high-profile Public Accounts Committee will go to Fine Gael, with Limerick East TD Michael Noonan likely to retain the post.
Mr Ahern may opt to appoint PD TD for Galway West Noel Grealish and Green Party Dún Laoghaire TD Ciarán Cuffe to chairs to consolidate the Coalition arrangement.
