Changes expected in junior ministries

FIANNA FÁIL TDs are expecting across-the-board changes in the junior ranks when the Cabinet decides on the composition of the second-tier Ministers on Tuesday.

The expectations of major change is based on more-dramatic-than-expected changes in the senior ranks and some TDs expect some junior Ministers to be sacked.

The promotion of Batt O’Keeffe and Brendan Smith to senior ministries has created two automatic vacancies, but Taoiseach Brian Cowen immediately filled one of those – the so-called super-junior position with responsibility for children – by appointing Barry Andrews.

However, a third junior ministry was vacated following the decision by Tom Kitt to return to the back benches after he was demoted from the position of Government chief whip. That job was filled by the Minister of State for drugs strategy Pat Carey, leaving a second vacancy.

The number of junior ministries was increased – amid some pointed criticism – to 20 in the wake of last year’s general election. Unlike senior Ministers who are nominated by the Taoiseach of the day, it is the Government collectively which decides on the junior Ministers.

However, this is invariably done on the advice of the Taoiseach.

Following the change of Taoiseach, all but four of the junior Ministers are now formally deemed to be backbenchers until the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The four who retain the status of Minister of State are Mr Carey, Mr Andrews, the Green Party’s only junior Minister Trevor Sargent, as well as the Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche. All were appointed following a special meeting of the new Cabinet held immediately after Ministers received their seal of office in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Following a more wide-ranging shake-up of ministerial posts than expected, Fianna Fáil TDs, including junior Ministers, believe that there will be dramatic changes on Tuesday.

A number of Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke to The Irish Times yesterday said they expected a dramatic shake-up of junior ministries, with a number being told they must return to the back benches.

However, there was no expectation that the overall number of junior ministries – at 20, the highest in the history of the State – will be pared back in the context of the national pay negotiations and the contracting economy.

The names that have been most mentioned in terms of promotion are the Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Michael Finneran and John Curran, a TD in Dublin Mid West, who is also the assistant Government chief whip.

Both Mr Finneran and Mr Curran are close to Mr Cowen and belong to what is loosely referred to as his bar lobby. According to one reliable source, the Taoiseach is very keen to achieve balance and fairness, and does not want to overly favour his strongest political supporters.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times