Varadkar to become Taoiseach, minimal changes expected in Cabinet reshuffle

James Cox

The Taoiseach has refused to give away any of his plans for Saturday's Cabinet reshuffle.

Minimal changes are expected at the Cabinet table when Leo Varadkar takes over the top job on Saturday.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the European Council summit with Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, who like almost all junior ministers, has no idea whether he will still be in his role next week.

Mr Martin was tight-lipped on his reshuffle plans - and whether, as speculated, he is going to take the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

It is expected changes at the top table will be minimal.

Leo Varadkar's move into the Department of the Taoiseach means someone must be displaced to make room for Mr Martin. It is believed The Fianna Fáil leader will take Simon Coveney's place, who is tipped to take Mr Varadkar's Enterprise portfolio.

On Satuday, Fianna Fáil TDs will vote for a Fine Gael Taoiseach for the first time.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Martin told Newstalk: "I'm not speculating about what happens tomorrow, there will be a meeting of party leaders tonight and we'll finalise the situation.

"I had interesting discussions with the chancellor of Germany on that topic on the margins of the meeting, because there's a similar coalition there, and he gave me some interesting ideas on how to keep it going."