Announcement on Junior Ministers imminent
No Border TDs in new Cabinet
It's expected that all 23 Junior Ministers will be confirmed shortly following the conclusion of a cabinet meeting this afternoon (Wednesday).
When Taoiseach Micheál Martin named his Cabinet on Thursday last, it appeared there with no place for any TDs from Ulster or the Border region. Junior Minister positions have yet to be announced, with Fianna Fáil's Niamh Smyth, who headed up the Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, still tipped for one of those positions.
The number of junior ministry positions available is set to increase from 20 to 23. The nearest Cavan or Monaghan comes to a representatives in Government is Meath East Fine Gael TD and outgoing Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, who has been moved to the Department of Education, with Fianna Fáil's Jim O'Callaghan taking over the Justice Department.
After an unprecedented day of angry exchanges in the Dail chamber this day last week, the business of putting in place a new government fell into place after Mr Martin received the his Seal of Office from President Michael D Higgins. As per the agreement between the coalition parties, there are eight ministers from Fianna Fáil and seven from Fine Gael.
Of the 15 senior ministerial positions, just one - Fine Gael's Peter Burke - is continuing in his former role. The provincial breakdown of where the voice of government reside is - 11 from Leinster, three from Munster, and one from Connaught.
Three Super Junior Ministries are to go to Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton, and Regional Independent TDs Sean Canney and Noel Grealish. The only minister to be demoted to be back-benches is Donegal Fianna Fail TD, Charlie McConalogue.
Of the 15 new Cabinet ministers, only three are women. The female representation increases to four when Chief Whip Mary Butler is included.
Under the agreement between the two parties Fianna Fáil will have 10 Junior Ministers and Fine Gael will have eight. So Deputy Smyth will be hopeful for one of those 10 positions.
She is facing competition from Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue, Clare TD Timmy Dooley and Michael Moynihan, TD for Cork North-West; while others tipped along with Deputy Smyth include Cork South-West TD Christopher O'Sullivan, Carlow-Kilkenny TD Jennifer Murnane O'Connor or Catherine Ardagh, TD for Dublin South-Central.
At the time of going to print yesterday (Tuesday), the Bailieborough TD was remaining tight-lipped on her prospects.