SIMON SAYS TIME TO SHUFFLE PACK

FINE Gael TDs Peter Burke and Patrick O’Donovan were the two big winners in the cabinet reshuffle announced by new Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Hours after being appointed as the new Taoiseach, Mr Harris made significant changes to a selection of Cabinet positions held by his party.

He had engaged in a series of meetings with hopeful candidates at Government Buildings in Dublin before announcing the promotions in the Dail parliament.

Peter Burke was appointed as Minister for Enterprise, a position which was recently vacated by Simon Coveney.

Mr Harris gave his former role of Minister for Further Education to Patrick O’Donovan in a promotion for the Limerick TD who held the position of Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Change

While there had been speculation that Hildegarde Naughton may have been promoted directly to a Cabinet post, no such change was announced.

Instead, Ms Naughton will take on the role as Minister of State for Special Education and leave her current position as junior minister at the Department of Health.

She also retains her position as Government chief whip, which already sees her sitting at Cabinet as a so-called super junior.

The role as Minister of State for Special Education was left vacant after Josepha Madigan announced last month that she would resign.

Mr Harris announced that Mr Burke’s previous role of junior non-Cabinet role of Minister of State for European Affairs will be filled by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - who had been a Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services.

The announcement of the new minister of state alongside the other senior roles came as the Taoiseach signalled an increased emphasis on the position, however, it means Ms Carroll MacNeill misses out on a Cabinet seat.

Helen McEntee retained her justice portfolio amid much speculation on her role, as Mr Harris aims to refocus his party on “law and order”.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys also held on to their positions.