The Dublin TD Mr Richard Bruton is expected to be appointed Fine Gael's new deputy leader this week.
Mr Bruton, who represents Dublin North Central, was among the candidates defeated by Mr Enda Kenny in last week's leadership battle. Mr Kenny, when naming his front bench, on Wednesday or Thursday, is expected to allocate senior positions to Mr Bruton and the other defeated leadership candidates, Mr Phil Hogan, Carlow-Kilkenny, and Mr Gay Mitchell, Dublin South Central.
All are likely to get economic portfolios, with Mr Bruton, an economist, a strong favourite to mark the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy. Given that Mr Kenny is from Mayo, Mr Bruton's additional appointment as deputy leader would create a rural-urban balance at the top of the party.
Mr Kenny is also expected to find a place for Ms Olivia Mitchell, Dublin South, a strong performer in the last Dáil. He will be looking to Mr Bruton, Mr Mitchell and Ms Mitchell to lead the party's recovery in Dublin. Given that some of Fine Gael's senior figures lost their seats in the general election, Mr Kenny will have plenty of scope in forming his front bench.
The defeat of people like Mr Alan Dukes, Mr Jim Higgins, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, Mr Charles Flanagan and Mr Brian Hayes, means he can give the party's front bench a new look without alienating long-serving deputies.
This means newly-elected deputies such as Laois-Offaly's Ms Olwyn Enright, Louth's Mr Fergus O'Dowd and Waterford's Mr John Deasy could find themselves on the front bench at the beginning of their Dáil careers.
Mr Simon Coveney, Cork South Central, Mr Denis Naughten, Longford-Roscommon, both of whom were tipped as possible future leaders after Mr Michael Noonan's resignation, can also expect front bench places.
Others in line for promotion are Mr Kenny's constituency colleague, the colourful and hardworking Mr Michael Ring, Mr John Perry, who has carved a strong base in Sligo-Leitrim, Mr David Stanton, Cork East, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, Kerry North, and Mr Billy Timmins, Wicklow.
