THE KEY PLAYERS WHO GOT THE DEAL DONE

DEIRDRE GILLANE

Micheal Martin’s trusted confidante is feared by TDs but also privately criticised by some who feel she wields too much power and influence over Martin and Fianna Fail policy. A former nurse and trade union official, Gillane was an adviser to Martin when he was a minister and has been chef de cabinet for the last nine years. The Cork woman drafted the programme for government with her Fine Gael and Green counterparts and is now likely to occupy a powerful role in the new administration.

JOHN CARROLL

The now-former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s trusted adviser spent the last three years overseeing the implementation of the last programme for government and has been central to the drafting of the new one. The Meath native is a policy wonk and former chief executive of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. Despite being junior to Varadkar’s chief of staff Brian Murphy, Carroll’s in-depth involvement in recent weeks should land him a prominent position in the new Tanaiste’s office.

ANNA CONLAN The Greens’ political manager in Leinster House was another central figure in drafting the document that will guide the new Government. A former parliamentary assistant to Eamon Ryan, she worked closely with the leader over recent years to help bring about unprecedented electoral success. A graduate of NUI Galway, DCU and Maynooth, she was also a successful footballer for Leitrim, winning an AllIreland intermediate title in 2007. Conlan should get a significant backroom role to fight the Greens’ corner.