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Updated 9.30am
THE GOVERNMENT IS expected to confirm the full make-up of its junior ministerial ranks today, with the creation of new post – focusing on rural affairs – expected to go to a Labour TD.
Speaking this morning at government buildings, the Taoiseach said that himself and Tánaiste Joan Burton were looking to reinvigorate the government.
“It’s not an easy day, I have to say,” he told reporters as he prepares to drop some ministers but promote others from the backbenches.
He added: “What we are trying to do is refresh our team and have a really strong motivated government in the interests of the job that we have to do.”
Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said that he “didn’t know” how extensive the reshuffle would be.
The list of current ministers has already been altered on the Department of the Taoiseach’s website since Friday’s Cabinet reshuffle — with only Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe and the demoted Jimmy Deenihan currently featured.
Changes already known
A number of TDs have been promoted to full ministers: namely Alan Kelly, who moved from his role as public transport minister to take over at the Department of the Environment; Paschal Donohoe, who left his ‘Europe’ post to head the Department of Transport; former Health junior minister Alex White, who is now Communications Minister, and Jan O’Sullivan — now helming Education, having departed the Housing junior ministry.
Kathleen Lynch – the junior minister at the Department of Health – is to stay in her role and will also take over responsibility for primary care, new Tánaiste Joan Burton confirmed at the weekend.
And while there are a raft of names across both parties being tipped for promotion, it’s thought Sligo-North Leitrim Fine Gael John Perry — currently the Minister of State for Small Business — could be dropped from the ranks, following the elevation of Labour’s Ged Nash to ‘super junior’ minister at the Department of Jobs.
The creation of the new junior ministry with responsibility for rural affairs was one of 34 recommendations made by a commission set up to examine economic development in rural areas, chaired by former Gaelic footballer Pat Spillane.
It is also thought that a junior ministry in the Department of Social Protection will be created to help Joan Burton with her workload now she is Tánaiste in addition to Social Protection Minister.
Both coalition parties have a number of factors to consider but share common issues like the need to promote youth, bolster the number of female ministers and to include Dublin-based deputies.
Labour TDs in contention for a promotion include Ann Phelan, Arthur Spring and deputy leadership candidates Michael McCarthy and Ciara Conway. Dublin-based deputies like Kevin Humphreys and John Lyons are also said to be in the running.
Fine Gael’s reshuffle is expected to focus on bringing a number of women onto the ministerial benches with Mary Mitchell-O’Connor and Regina Doherty considered the most likely to be promoted.
Others being considered include Dara Murphy, Damien English, Liam Twomey and Simon Harris. Dublin TDs like Eoghan Murphy are also said to be under consideration.
The senior coalition partner is likely to retain control of the two of the most prestigious junior ministries – Minister of State at the Department of Finance (vacated by newly-elected MEP Brian Hayes) and Minister of State for European Affairs (vacated by new Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe).
Additional reporting Hugh O’Connell, Paul Hosford and Órla Ryan.
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That has to be the longest article I didn’t read.
@Jason Ebbs: exactly what they want. The headline will stick in your mind though.
Seaspiracy on Netflix.
Stunned…..
https://g.co/kgs/Us1NVr
@Mark O’Donohoe: just watched this – no more fish for me!
@Patricia: pretty sad but to be honest if you watch any documentary on industrial farmed produce from any source (meet, poultry, fish) you would be left wondering what you would feel comfortable eating.
@John Egan: vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and very happy and healthy doing so
@Aedín: im sure it is, would 6 billion people be able to do the same
@Mark O’Donohoe: I haven’t eaten a morsel of meat or fish since I watched that, followed by conspiracy. I’m done.
Can we not have the small Irish boat as a symbol on fish products, like the guaranteed Irish symbol.
Give people the choice to pay a bit more for a more sustainable fishing method.
Ultimately, only a boycott on fish will force the fishing industry and government to implement changes.
@Ian Downes: that’s an ideal solution. Sadly the industry is anything but ideal. Cant see it happening unless the whole industry as it is collapses.
The fishing industry is always left behind. Lost most of the rights coming into Europe because we didn’t know/ want what we had.
Now, an advanced society realise what we let go.
Totally overfishing by everyone. The negotiations come up every December and the only sector that looses out every year are the fish
Great article
I see this rag isn’t happy the EU have started to plunder our waters.
@HonestGrump: The plundering of our waters began a long time ago
Last year decided to go “meet free Mondays” where I’d have veg only… apparently a kilo of meat uses like a thousand litres of water. Then moved to “fish free Fridays” as I knew about over fishing. Will I have a world changing impact? Probably not..but if I can help a lil bit, without drastically changing my life? I’ll give it go!
(This is coming from a prepper btw)
@The Kev in Kevlar: you need to learn how to spell before you can comment. The standard of English and commentators is very poor on this website. Including reporters. Just take moment reread and then publish
@The Kev in Kevlar: as they say.. lots of people doing they’re best imperfectly rather than a few doing things perfectly
@Aedín: **** their best
@Keith Rankin: hahaha you come at me for spelling rather that my point? Eat you troll food and go back under your bridge…try harder next time darling
@Aedín: underrated comment, full credit
Dont eat fish tis full of plastic.
Also, after Fukushima went (literally) nuclear, the sheer amount of chemicals is the Pacific,now leaching into the Atlantic has jumped a lot…
Seaspiracy on Netflix well worth a look. I won’t be eating fish anymore. The impact fishing is having on stocks, other animals and even the climate is substantial. Very long article but very good!
have your say