Who is in the running for the big jobs in Cabinet?
it clear that he wants to create a new look Fine Gael in many ways, to promote new talent in the party.
“I know he was struggling with the decision in relation to who’d be in and who’d be out.
“I think that, for me, having been in the Cabinet, which has been an amazing experience, for 13 years – which is a lot more than most politicians have the privilege of having in Cabinet – I felt the time was right both from his point of view and from mine to give him the space to create new opportunity in the party, in Government.”
There had been widespread suggestions that Mr Coveney would be dropped from Cabinet on April 9 when Mr Harris becomes Taoiseach and puts a new Cabinet in place.
These rumours were aided by news last week that his longterm press adviser Chris Donoghue would become the new Government Press Secretary.
Mr Coveney told RTE he realised that Mr Harris had a “really difficult decision” to make about who would be in his Cabinet.
He said that while Mr Harris was “weighing up” whether he would keep Mr Coveney in Government, he has “made life easier for him” and given him a chance to promote newer TDs.
Asked if he intended to run in the next election, Mr Coveney said: “That’s really not for this week. It’s not a yes or it’s not a no. It’s me just being honest about it. I have to decide what the future is for me.”
Firm
On March 24 in Athlone, the Minister had given a firm “yes” when asked if he was contesting the next election.
Several Fine Gael politicians told The Star that while the news had been “mooted”, the announcement came as a “shock”.
Several sources said that there was a feeling he had been “shafted”
and that his decision to stand down was him “going before he was pushed”.
One said: “In many ways, Coveney made the decision before Harris made the decision.”
It is understood that party members who backed Mr Coveney in the 2017 leadership competition against Leo Varadkar are “not happy at all” and “really annoyed”.
Several Fine Gael politicians also said that they think Brendan Griffin could decide not to retire after the next election.
One source said: “Maybe Brendan is the rabbit in the hat none of us see coming.”
They suggested that Mr Griffin could become Chief Whip, with Hildegarde Naughton moved to Higher Education.
Another politician said that it was “obvious” that neither Coveney nor Varadkar would run again – meaning that up to half of the sitting TDs would not contest the election. At least one more TD is expected to announce they are not running again.
It is expected that Seanad Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer could run for Cork South Central if Mr Coveney stands down.
THE ink is barely dry on Simon Coveney’s statement informing Simon Harris he does not wish to be in his Cabinet.
Yet, attention is already turning to who will replace the Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central at the top table.
The promotion of Simon Harris following Leo Varadkar’s decision to step down will create one vacancy at Cabinet when Mr Harris becomes Taoiseach on April 9.
Mr Coveney’s decision to step down creates a second vacancy.
If two junior ministers are promoted, that creates three vacancies in the junior ranks following Josepha Madigan’s decision to resign last month.
But who are the runners and riders for the big jobs?
PETER BURKE
Junior Minister for European Affairs and a Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, Burke is widely expected to be promoted to Cabinet.
The 41-year-old Mullingar man, often seen as a close Varadkar ally, has impressed members of his party during his seven-year Dail career.
He is known as a boisterous and confident media performer.
JENNIFER CARROLL-MacNEILL
Elected in 2020, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has quickly risen through the ranks of Fine Gael.
The Dun Laoghaire TD is understood to have given serious consideration to contesting the Fine Gael leadership competition.
Many of her Fine Gael colleagues said that if she had Cabinet experience under her belt, she may have been in with a shot.
She is currently a Minister of State in the Department of Finance.
HILDEGARDE NAUGHTON
Hildegarde Naughton is one of three Ministers of State who sit at Cabinet and serves as the Government Chief Whip.
She was first elected to the Dail in 2016 to represent Galway West but served as a Senator for three years before this.
Some have argued that geography could be on her side if Minister Harris plans to focus on rural affairs and expand his Cabinet beyond the Dublin commuter belt.
NEALE RICHMOND
Another strong media performer, Neale Richmond made his name when he was a Senator speaking about Brexit. He was elected in Dublin Rathdown as a TD in 2020 and was promoted to Junior Minister at the Department of Enterprise in 2022.
PATRICK O’DONOVAN
While Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan was one of the TDs less touted for promotion, the exit of Simon Coveney creates a Munster vacancy for Fine Gael.
The 47-year-old has been a Minister of State for six years and is currently Minister for the OPW.
Could Simon Coveney’s exit mean that Simon Harris has to promote someone in Munster?
BRENDAN GRIFFIN
Although Fine Gael’s Kerry TD has said he will not contest the next general election, several of his party colleagues have suggested to the Irish Mirror that he could be swayed if he was offered a Cabinet position.
However, they stressed if he was to be given the Chief Whip position, he would have to commit to running again.
Several people suggested that Griffin could be moved to Chief Whip and Minister Naughton could move to the Minister for Higher Education role.
AND THE JUNIORS…
Of Fine Gael’s 33
TDs, six are ministers, eight are junior ministers and 11 are not contesting the next election.
Several others have already held office.
Those who could be in contention for a junior ministry include Emer Higgins, Colm Burke, Alan Dillon and Alan Farrell.