Significant changes in personnel and portfolios are expected when the new government is formed next Wednesday, according to senior sources in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
As Fine Gael returns to office for the fourth consecutive term, and Fianna Fáil for the second, both party leaders are anxious to refresh the cabinet with a series of new appointments, it is understood.
While few final decisions have been made, and the process is notoriously unpredictable, there is a strong expectation that several promotions and switches of portfolios will take place when the new cabinet is announced on Wednesday after Micheál Martin is elected taoiseach for the second time.
The numbers game: ministers, junior ministers and technical groups as the next government beds in
In Fine Gael, junior ministers Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill and Martin Heydon are tipped for promotion by Simon Harris, possibly to the health and agriculture briefs, while deputy leader Helen McEntee is widely expected to move to the Department of Enterprise. Peter Burke is thought likely to move to another cabinet post.
Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton is another candidate for promotion to the cabinet, potentially to the education brief, though outgoing Minister for Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan is also a possibility for the portfolio.
Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe is universally expected to be appointed minister for finance for the third time, while Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers will switch to the Department of Public Expenditure.
Mr Martin is thought likely to reshuffle his outgoing Ministers, with the likely exception of Darragh O’Brien, who is expected to remain in the Department of Housing. Norma Foley is tipped for the Department of Social Protection, while Charlie McConalogue will also move if Fine Gael gets the agriculture portfolio. Jim O’Callaghan is tipped by some senior party sources as a likely Minister for Justice.
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Meanwhile, it is understood that the Regional Independent Group was asked to remove constituency projects from a list of demands compiled for negotiations on the formation of the new administration.
Two senior government sources and two sources in the Independent group confirmed that the request was made by negotiators from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael amid concern about a backbencher revolt and potential accusations of constituency deals.
When substantive talks on the now-published programme for government intensified last weekend, documents containing a list of constituency projects — from hospital investment to local infrastructure — were presented by the Independent group to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“The first draft had figures in it, money for different things and a list of projects. They were told they needed to revise their document … In fairness to them, they took out a lot. Otherwise, it would have been a list of projects, everywhere and anywhere. That would not have been fair.”
Two sources in the Independent group confirmed this, with one saying that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil feared a backlash from backbenchers.
However, Independent TDs said privately that they expect to secure roads and other investments through a review of the National Development Plan, while they also expect that local health projects and improvements will be included in the next Health Service Executive service and capital plan.
“Good luck to them. They’re in for some learning curve,” said a Government source, while Independent group sources were adamant that their requests would be met.
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