When it comes to who is getting what government job, the only “known knowns” are the roles for the five Independent TDs, two of whom are going to the Department of Agriculture.
Speculation is mounting that the senior agriculture role will go to Minister of State for Agriculture Martin Heydon, the Fine Gael Kildare South TD who was involved in the government formation talks. If appointed, he will be joined by Galway West TD Noel Grealish, assigned a super junior ministerial role on food innovation and exports, while Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae will be minister of State for forestry.
Galway East TD Seán Canney will be a super junior in the Department of Transport with responsibility for ports, roads and railways. He will also be government co-ordinator for the Independents and is expected to attend the leaders’ meetings ahead of cabinet discussions. Longford-Westmeath TD Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran will be junior minister for the Office of Public Works while Sligo-Leitrim Independent Marian Harkin is set to be minister of State in the Department of Further and Higher Education.
Fianna Fáil is set to get eight senior jobs and seven will go to Fine Gael. Paschal Donohoe is set to return to the finance role while current Minister for Finance Jack Chambers is said to be appointed to an expanded public expenditure and reform position.
With two super junior ministers for Galway, there is speculation around whether the highly regarded Government chief whip and Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton will get the nod for a senior cabinet position although there is concern that the new administration should have more women in the cabinet.
It is understood Taoiseach Simon Harris will appoint new TDs to minister of State roles with speculation that former Seanad cathaoirleach and Cork TD Jerry Buttimer could be among those. Waterford TD John Cummins, also involved in the formation talks, is being mentioned, but sources point out that in the past negotiators have been disappointed, only to benefit in later administrations.
Dún Laoghaire Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is also thought to be in line for a senior role but reports that she might get the challenging Department of Health job were described as “just speculation”.
Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Health Mary Butler from Waterford is believed destined for a full ministry, with social protection being mentioned.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is thought likely to move to another department with talk currently centred on enterprise and there is much speculation about who will get to succeed her as the department moves into Fianna Fáil’s bailiwick.
Minister of State James Browne is being tipped by some for the role, as is Jim O’Callaghan, a barrister and significant Dáil contributor on justice issues.
Fianna Fáil will keep the housing portfolio and it is thought Darragh O’Brien will stay on as senior minister as a statement of the government’s intent on housing, though some sources suggest there could be surprises in a number of departments.
Minister of State Dara Calleary is also said to be destined for a senior portfolio, as are Ministers of State Thomas Byrne and Neale Richmond.
Other former senators speculated on for junior ministry roles are Emer Currie (Fine Gael, Dublin West), Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fáil, Louth) Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fáil, Clare) and Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fáil, Dublin South-Central). Newly elected Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire TD Barry Ward is thought to have a lower chance because of his constituency colleague Ms Carroll MacNeill’s expected promotion.
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