No decision on Cabinet reshuffle until party leaders meet, says Martin

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has refused to be drawn on speculation about Cabinet reshuffles, insisting that no decision will be taken until he sits down with the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan at the end of November to discuss possible ministerial changes.

Mr Martin confirmed that he would be honouring the three party agreement reached with Fine Gael and the Greens which will see Mr Varadkar and himself rotate the positions of Taoiseach and Tánaiste on December 17th but beyond that he would not be drawn.

“I think, basically, as I have said repeatedly, we will of course be honouring the agreement – this is a three party Government. The Programme for Government is the glue that holds the Government together,” he told reporters in Cork.

“We have to work hard to fulfil the programme in terms of housing, health, climate change which I experienced again this week as to how serious it is right now in terms of the rapidity of change in weather patterns and the impact that is having on food production.”

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“The Tánaiste and I, at the end of this month, will meet with [Green Party leader] Eamon Ryan, we will work through with our advisers the various issues surrounding portfolios and all the other issues pertaining to the next phase of the Government.”

Asked if there was any substance to or if he had any comment to make on media reports that Fine Gael were anxious to take over the Agriculture portfolio with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney being mentioned as a possible candidate, Mr Martin was again reluctant to be drawn.

“As I said earlier, Leo and Eamon and myself have agreed that we will talk about this at the end of the month. We don’t want to fuel unnecessary speculation – there is a lot of speculation, and I am not going to add to it,” he said before declining to comment further.