Cabinet reshuffle finally in sight

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton are expected to announce the Cabinet reshuffle this morning.

A note sent out by the whip’s office last night told TDs to be ready for an announcement by Mr Kenny in the Dáil at 10.30 am.

Mr Kenny and Ms Burton met last night to sign off on a document outlining an agreed framework for the remainder of the Government’s term of office. The talks concluded at 10.30 pm, having lasted two hours. All matters were concluded, including the allocation of ministries. The new line-up of Cabinet ministers will be outlined today, and the Coalition’s statement of priorities will also be published. New appointments to the junior ministerial ranks will not be revealed until next week.

There was broad agreement on the contents of the document earlier this week, but Fine Gael and Labour officials have been working on it line by line over the past 48 hours to iron out minor differences of interpretation.

The new Cabinet will travel today to Áras an Uachtaráin to received seals of office from President Michael D Higgins.

The first meeting of the new Cabinet will take place at the Áras.

Approval

Afterwards, the Taoiseach and his Ministers will return to Leinster House to seek the approval of the Dáil for the new government.

Coalition TDs were told yesterday that pairing arrangements would not be available for today’s sitting, signalling that the reshuffle was imminent.

Despite weeks of speculation, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have kept their Ministers and TDs in the dark about what is likely to happen in the reshuffle.

However, it is widely expected that Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan will be appointed the country’s next EU commissioner, opening the door to at least one promotion on the Fine Gael side of the Cabinet.

Speculation

Ruairí Quinn’s resignation has created a vacancy on the Labour side, and few expect Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte to remain in Cabinet, although there has been speculation one might survive.

One certain promotion is the new Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly, who has been linked with one of the economic departments.

While some reconfiguration of Government departments is on the cards, it is unlikely to be extensive.