Cork TDs eagerly awaiting phone calls from Taoiseach and Tánaiste with junior minister roles set to be announced

A number of Cork TDs were awaiting calls today from An Taoiseach, Mícheál Martin, or Tánaiste Simon Harris to learn if they are to be offered a promotion to the junior ministerial ranks for the new Government's term.

When contacted by The Echo, however, many were remaining tightlipped.

There are 10 Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael TDs in contention for roles as Ministers for State and while there will be a record number of junior ministry posts, 23, in this Government, up three from the last administration, there are other mathematical and considerations to be taken into account which could limit the number of Cork faces among the ranks of the junior ministers, due to be ratified during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.

Last week’s announcement of the allocation of Cabinet posts led to accusations of both gender and geographical imbalance and while there was no senior Minister from Cork, apart from An Taoiseach, Mícheál Martin, the fact that there’s no female TD among the ranks of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael candidates for elevation will make it more challenging for a Cork TD to be appointed junior minister.

Among the names being mentioned as likely candidates for promotion are Fianna Fáil’s Michael Moynihan and Christopher O’Sullivan. 

Aindrias Moynihan is also being suggested as a possible junior minister as is Seamus McGrath, the brother of the former Finance Minister. 

James O’Connor may have ruled himself out of the running for promotion due to his well publicised spats with the Taoiseach in the last Dáil but Pádraig O’Sullivan may be in for an outside chance of promotion.

On the Fine Gael side of the fence, John Paul O’Shea, who was a member of that party’s negotiating team, should be among the names being put forward for that party’s seven junior ministerial slots as should the names of former Seanad leader, Jerry Buttimer, and Colm Burke, who served as Minister for State in the last Government. 

Mr O'Shea told The Echo: “I have had the great honour of being appointed to the negotiation team for the Programme for Government,” he said.

“I would be happy to serve wherever our Party Leader and Tánaiste would ask me to,” he said, adding that he had yet to receive a call.

Noel McCarthy, who missed out on the vote to elect An Taoiseach due to being locked out of the chamber after he left to take medication, may also miss the promotion boat on this occasion.

The lineup of junior ministerial roles is likely to be announced on Tuesday, following their ratification at the Cabinet meeting.

The Taoiseach has promised to tackle the housing crisis and create a “step change” for people with disabilities as he revealed a refreshed Cabinet.

He last week confirmed to the Dáil that two independents would be ‘super’ junior ministers: Noel Grealish as Minister of State for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, and Sean Canney as Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports.

After almost five years in coalition together, old political enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are gearing up for another term in government – swapping out the Greens as a junior coalition partner for a handful of independents.

Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party after the general election at the end of November and agreed to re-enter a coalition with Fine Gael.

The two parties combined were just short of a majority in the Dáil and agreed a coalition deal with Fine Gael, the regional independent group and Kerry brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae.