MICHEAL MARTIN’S CABINET

The 18 members appointed yesterday by Ireland’s 15th Taoiseach

Tanaiste / Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael)

Varadkar (41) was first elected to the Dail in 2007 in Dublin West. When Fine Gael was elected to government in 2011, he was appointed Transport Minister. Following a Cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed as Health Minister. After the 2016 election, Enda Kenny moved him to Social Protection. He later replaced Kenny as Fine Gael leader and became Taoiseach.

Public Expenditure and Reform

Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail)

McGrath (43) has been TD for Cork South Central since 2007. He shares the constituency with his party leader, Micheal Martin and Fine Gael deputy leader, Simon Coveney. A chartered accountant by profession, he has been a long-time Fianna Fail finance spokesman and has also been a key party government formation negotiator in 2016 and again this year. He also contributed to the banking inquiry in 2015/2016.

Children, Disability, Equality and Integration

Roderic O’Gorman (Green Party)

The Green Party justice spokesman (37) has contested 10 elections in 15 years, finally becoming a TD for Dublin West in February. A long-serving Green activist, he lectured in DCU, specialising in EU, climate change and planning law. Well-liked across the party and known as a bit of a policy wonk, he played a prominent role in the government formation talks in recent weeks.

Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands

Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael)

Fine Gael’s no-nonsense Cavan-Monaghan TD (57) was heavily involved in the preparations for a feared no-deal Brexit in her role as business minister. An Ulster Presbyterian, she was widely praised for her work in kicking off the decade of centenaries commemorations when she was Culture Minister. Her record over the last four years makes her an indispensable member of Cabinet for FG.

Health

Stephen Donnelly (Fianna Fail)

Donnelly (44) was first elected to the Dail in 2011 after regularly appearing on current affairs shows where he would give polished analysis of the financial crash. The former McKinsey management consultant formed the Social Democrats with fellow Independent TDs Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall in 2015. He left the party later that year and joined Fianna Fail.

Land Use and Biodiversity *

Pippa Hackett (Green Party)

Hackett is the first Senator who will sit at Cabinet meetings since Fine Gael’s James Dooge served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the early 1980s. Her surprise appointment is a testament to her work on the agriculture section of the programme for government. She holds a BSc in Agriculture from Essex University and lives on a mixed organic farm.

*Minister of State in Department of Agriculture

Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport

Eamon Ryan (Green Party)

The Green Party leader (56) was Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the ill-fated Fianna Fail-Green government between 2007 and 2011. After losing his seat, he was elected party leader and set about trying to rebuild the Greens. He was elected in Dublin Bay South in 2016. He is facing a party leadership contest against Catherine Martin.

Foreign Affairs and Defence

Simon Coveney (Fine Gael)

The outgoing Tanaiste (47) played a strong role in Ireland’s fight to reduce the impact of Brexit. From one of Cork’s prosperous ‘‘merchant prince’’ families, Coveney was first elected in 1998 in a by-election following the death of his TD father Hugh. He has previously been minister for agriculture and housing. His renewed tenure at Foreign Affairs will see crucial trade talks with post-Brexit UK and Ireland’s time on the UN Security Council.

Agriculture and the Marine

Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail)

Cowen (52) has been a TD for Laois-Offaly since 2011. He is the brother of former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and his father, Ber, was a Fianna Fail TD. He has been a highprofile and influential party member, engaging in government formation talks in 2016 and again this year. He first entered politics by being elected to Offaly County Council in 1999. Cowen was spokesman on public finance.

Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail)

O’Brien (47) has been the Fianna Fail TD for Dublin Fingal since 2016. He previously represented that area from 2007-2011, after which he narrowly lost his seat and moved to the Seanad. A native of Malahide, he previously worked as an insurance company executive and was a highprofile and combative party spokesman on housing and also served as finance spokesman.

Education, Innovation and Science

Simon Harris (Fine Gael)

The outgoing health minister (33) is the great survivor from the last Cabinet. It was the prospect of a no-confidence vote in Harris that prompted Leo Varadkar to call the election. A move to an education role will be a relief from such a tumultuous time in health, where the youthful minister’s hair turned grey.

International and Road Travel and Logistics *

Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)

Galway West TD Naughton’s (43) promotion to Cabinet won’t surprise political insiders who have watched her star quietly rise as an effective chairperson of both the Communications and Climate Action committees. Her talent for striking compromise saw her recruited for Fine Gael’s government formation team. *Minister of State in Department of Transport

Finance

Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

‘Prudent Paschal’ (45) will return to the Department of Finance where he’s going to have to work on paying for the massive ramping up of State spending during the coronavirus crisis. He got much of the credit for Ireland’s finances — briefly — returning to the black after the last recession. Now he has to do it all over again. He could be in line for a top job in Europe after his name has gone forward as a candidate for President of the Eurogroup.

Education

Norma Foley (Fianna Fail)

Norma Foley (51) has joined a small group of first-time TDs to win promotion directly into Cabinet. The Kerry TD was elected to the Dail for the first time on February 8, having failed in one previous attempt in 2007. A teacher and county councillor since 2004, she has been mayor of Tralee three times. She is the daughter of the late Denis Foley, a former TD for Kerry North and also a senator over many years.

Justice

Helen McEntee (Fine Gael)

As European Affairs Minister, the Meath East TD (34) has been a constant presence at senior-level EU meetings for more than two years as the Brexit saga played out. She is well-regarded in the EU for her behind-the-scenes diplomatic work. She first entered politics in a by-election following the tragic death of her father, Fine Gael minister Shane McEntee in 2012.

Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht

Catherine Martin (Green Party)

The Green Party deputy leader (47) was first elected to the Dail in 2016 for Dublin Rathdown. The Monaghan native has served as the party’s education spokeswoman and spent over a decade teaching English and Music. Her popularity in the party puts her in a strong position to unseat Eamon Ryan and win the leadership contest that begins next week.

Chief Whip

Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail)

Calleary (47) is the Fianna Fail deputy leader and a TD for Mayo since 2007. He has a BA in business and politics. from Trinity College Dublin and was national chairman of his party’s youth wing, Ogra Fianna Fail, for a year. In 2009 he was appointed junior enterprise minister as the economy foundered. Calleary’s father and grandfather were both TDs for Mayo.

Attorney General

Paul Gallagher

Paul Gallagher SC (65) is to serve a second spell as Attorney General, having previously held the role between 2007 and 2011. During that tumultuous period he offered legal advice on the bank guarantee, the establishment of Nama and the initial measures taken under the Troika bailout programme. He has been practising at the Irish Bar for 40 years.