Taoiseach and Tánaiste to meet as re-shuffle looms
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are expected to meet later today and begin discussions on a Cabinet re-shuffle.
Eamon Gilmore also looks set for a showdown and discussion on his leadership at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting later this week.
The pair will meet formally today for the first time since the electorate gave both parties a message in the elections.
Tánaiste Gilmore will have two demands - a refocus on priorities, if not a formal renegotiation of the Programme for Government, and for talks on a Cabinet reshuffle to formally get underway.
Pressure is mounting from Labour backbenchers for a widespread reshuffle of the Cabinet - with Clare's Michael McNamara demanding all of the frontbench bar Brendan Howlin be removed.
There is renewed speculation that Gilmore will leave the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and move to the Department of Jobs and Enterprise.
But Labour is likely to also demand a change in the Department of Health, and other changes on the Fine Gael side of the Cabinet.
Eamon Gilmore will also have to deal with calls at the Parliamentary Labour Party later this week for a discussion on his leadership.
Enda Kenny has acknowledged that the coalition needs to change. He will be taking soundings around Fine Gael as to what those should be, and will have to see if they fit in with Labour's demands.
