BRENDAN HOWLIN:The rumour mill had settled on a role for Howlin in Cabinet; that of minister for social protection.
There was some surprise when it was announced that he – and not Joan Burton or Pat Rabbitte – would be given responsibility for the most powerful Labour portfolio: public expenditure and reform.
Howlin is vastly experienced, having held two senior ministries – Health and Environment – in the 1990s and more recently having served as leas-cheann comhairle in the last Dáil. He was also his party’s spokesman on political and constitutional reform, a role that will lend itself to his new position.
However, according to Labour sources, what swung it for him was that he became the star turn of Labour’s negotiating team of himself, Rabbitte and Burton. A colleague said Howlin showed great judgment throughout the five days of talks.
LEO VARADKAR:With nine Dublin-based TDs already destined for the 15-person Cabinet, there was a sense that the Dublin West TD might be a loser. It must also be remembered that Varadkar was one of the front bench members who went against Kenny in the failed heave last year.
In the event, Varadkar was one of the biggest winners. Not alone is he in Cabinet, but he has been given a substantial portfolio. He will take responsibility for the key transport sector (Metro North becomes an immediate responsibility) and he also takes over tourism and sports.
At 32, he is the youngest member of Cabinet and he and Simon Coveney will take the edge off the image of a greying Cabinet. One FG strategist said yesterday if Varadkar had been excluded it would have led to a sense of disillusionment among the swathe of younger, urban and female voters who flocked to the party.
RUAIRÍ QUINN:Labour leader Eamon Gilmore was left with a Hobson's Choice in filling his last Cabinet vacancy. After himself, each of his three-person negotiating team were automatic choices. The fifth and final position posed a quandary for him – would he go for experience or for youth?
Given the unprecedented gravity of the situation facing the country, he opted for the Dublin South East TD. Like Pat Rabbitte, Quinn is a former leader of the party, a former minister for finance and is perceived as a safe pair of hands. A centrist, he has vast experience in politics and in government.
There were other claims from able and experienced women and a few of the younger TDs.
However, Quinn was a person whose name was pencilled in as a probable by most commentators from the start.
JIMMY DEENIHAN:The Kerry Deputy, appointed to the Seanad as a nominee of Garret FitzGerald in 1983, has been in the Dáil since 1987 and has served as a minister of State.
As part of a large Fine Gael front bench, he was not one of those who was particularly prominent. However, the former All-Ireland-winning county footballer had a number of qualities going for him. The first was that he has been unstintingly loyal to Kenny and stood by him strongly in the leadership challenge last year.
Secondly, while not a natural orator, he is very industrious and has great organisational skills. The third factor is geography.
In a heavily Dublin-dominated Cabinet, the fact that he represents a constituency on the western seaboard did him no harm at all.
WILLIE PENROSE:The ebullient Westmeath TD should not be underestimated. Though his name had not featured in the speculation, his elevation to the "super junior" role was welcomed by colleagues.
One of them described him as not as predictable as the other Labour choices, and as a TD who will appeal to a different demographic.
The fact that he is from the midlands will also help give the Labour team a little more balance geographically.
He has the unwieldy title of Minister of State attending the Government and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with special responsibility for housing and planning.
It’s a role that is not particularly senior but the prize for Penrose will be a place at the Cabinet table.