YES, MINISTER: THE POSSIBLE NEW CABINET
Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan will meet this week to finalise a restructuring of government departments and a raft of new ministerial appointments. Here’s the cabinet they could end up picking
Taoiseach and Defence Micheal Martin (Fianna Fail)
Just over a month before his 60th birthday, the Corkman will assume the office of the Taoiseach as part of a deal that, for the first time, puts his resignation date in black and white. He will be the shortest-serving holder of the office in the State’s history, but it is still a remarkable feat given Fianna Fail’s predicament and he will hit the ground running.
Justice Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail)
Having held the justice brief for nearly a decade — in which time there has been a myriad of Garda scandals — it may be time for Fine Gael to hand it over to the old enemy. The ministry is not as problematic as it once was owing to the good work of Charlie
Flanagan, but a sizeable challenge would face the
Fianna Fail deputy leader in trying to bring an end to direct provision within the lifetime of the government.
Education and Children Catherine Martin (Green Party)
The Greens’ deputy leader is a former teacher and played a pivotal role in crafting the programme for government’s education section. Her immediate task would be to get schools reopened in September, and deal with the fallout from the cancelled
Leaving Cert, and that’s without even mentioning the fact that she could be the new
Green Party leader by the end of next month.
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael)
The Border-based business minister has been a prominent figure in the outgoing government’s response to the Covid crisis, successfully lobbying for the earlier-than-planned reopening of the country. Just as she did for businesses in recent weeks, she would make a strong case on behalf of farmers at a time when they are fearful of the Greens’ influence on government.
Arts, Culture and Media* Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)
The urgency of the climate crisis and Fianna Fail’s desire for a new higher education ministry could potentially necessitate the downgrading of the arts, culture and heritage brief. This will not be without strong criticism from the sector but it will still have a voice at cabinet. The Galway West TD and classically trained soprano has a strong arts background which would make her ideal for the role. * Minister of State
Tanaiste and Jobs and Tourism Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael)
This will be a coalition of firsts, including the first Taoiseach to be demoted to Tanaiste. The Fine Gael leader was reluctant to bring his party back into government, but the crisis dictates that he must. There is no more pressing a task than getting people back to work and Varadkar would relish this important role with a July Jobs Initiative in the pipeline and getting the tourism sector back on track.
Climate Action and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan (Green Party)
The focus on dealing with the climate emergency will make this one of the most important roles in government. Ryan would ensure the
7pc emissions reduction target is being worked towards across government, as well as the rollout of major projects like retrofitting, offshore wind farms and decarbonising the
State’s energy supply.
Housing Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail)
Having spent the last four years lambasting the Fine Gael approach to housing and homelessness, it’s Fianna Fail’s turn to tackle it. A key focus would be the delivery of affordable homes and passing laws to get the Land Development Agency functioning. Amid pressure to maintain bans on rent increases and evictions, the Dublin
TD has signalled another extension to the emergency laws.
Transport and Sport Roderic O’Gorman (Green Party)
The man known as Rod to his colleagues would be responsible for implementing the Greens’ radical new agenda on transport. This ultimately means less focus on roads in the long-term with a greater emphasis on cycle paths and walkways and and more investment in public transport with the rollout of the controversial BusConnects scheme to cities like Cork,
Limerick and Galway.
Finance Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)
The Dublin Central TD has fired out billions of euro in recent months as the Government grappled with an unprecedented crisis. It may have been anathema to his instincts of prudence and fiscal responsibility, but his task, if as expected he is retained in the role, would be to make the tough decisions needed to get the public finances back on a stable footing.
Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney (Fine Gael)
The outgoing Tanaiste wants to stay in foreign affairs where his work on Brexit and securing the UN Security Council seat has earned many plaudits. He may get his wish given we are at a sensitive moment in the protracted and still wildly uncertain process of the UK leaving the EU.
Arguably no one bar Varadkar is as across the detail on Brexit as the hard-working Cork
South-Central TD.
Social Protection Simon Harris (Fine Gael)
The Wicklow TD has had a tumultuous and eventful four years in Health with questions about delivery and a motion of no confidence in him effectively triggering the election in
January. But he has redeemed himself with the response to the Covid crisis and his strong communications skills would help navigate the tricky job of winding down the pandemic payments.
Higher Education and Research Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
The Meath East TD has been embedded in education matters for years and this new position is a key Fianna Fail priority. The future funding of the third-level sector is a major challenge, particularly with the disruption to the traditional college and university experience as a result of Covid.
Public Expenditure Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail)
The crisis requires a renewed focus on all areas of expenditure and there is arguably no better candidate than the diligent former accountant. Through confidence and supply, McGrath established a solid working relationship with Donohoe that endured through the talks as they vetoed Green proposals on tax, spending and the deficit. Between them they should keep things ticking over smoothly.
Health Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail)
An unlikely pick perhaps, but then his brother Brian was health minister in the late 1990s and the combative Cowen would be able to drive the Fianna Fail agenda in a department that is notoriously difficult to manage. Slaintecare’s implementation would be his main overarching priority, as well as ensuring the health service is capable of managing a second Covid surge that many feel is inevitable later this year.
Communications Helen McEntee (Fine Gael)
Having excelled as Minister for European Affairs, the Meath East TD is tipped for a cabinet promotion. Among her main responsibilities would be overseeing the expedited rollout of the National Broadband
Plan and getting the new Online
Safety Commissioner up and running, with the regulator set to be given wide-ranging powers to police internet content.
Disabilities * Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
Fianna Fail wants responsibility for the disabilities sector to be moved out of health and into the Department of the Taoiseach to ensure a more whole-of-government approach to the issue. Rabbitte would be a good fit having been a member of the party’s negotiating team and an effective spokesperson on children and youth affairs for the last four years. * Minister of State
Chief Whip Jack Chambers (Fianna Fail)
Reportedly one of the star Fianna Fail negotiators who earned plaudits from all sides and showed a strong grasp of the health, communications and defence briefs. Despite his tender years, the 29-year-old Dublin West TD is being tipped for the role that would make him responsible for ensuring government deputies are kept in line and present for crucial Dail votes.