The Cabinet reshuffle, as it happened
Paddy Power's Cabinet reshuffle specials
Number Of Cabinet Ministers To Lose Their Seats At Next General Election
12/1 None
5/2 One or Two
5/4 Three or Four
3/1 Five or Six
6/1 Seven or more
Number Of Female Cabinet Ministers Following Next General Election
50/1 None
20/1 One
8/1 Two
4/1 Three
6/1 Four
5/2 Five
7/2 Six or more
The President of the Irish Medical Organisation, Professor Trevor Duffy, issues a warning to the new Minister for Health Leo Varadkar: "We don’t need reforms which are designed by the IMF in Washington, we need reforms which reflect the reality of an overstretched health service where services to patients are being cut year on year, workload for doctors is increasing to unmanageable levels."
Welcome to the new post Leo….
The Taoiseach says the Cabinet reshuffle is about showing people they can get on with their lives without keeping their heads down and just surviving.
Enda Kenny's replaced a third of the Cabinet and brought a first-time TD straight into Government.
Tánaiste Joan Burton says they will work with head and heart to deliver the benefits of recovery in people's lives.
Children & Youth Affairs Minister James Reilly shakes hands with Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan #reshuffle pic.twitter.com/adoVkxOJIt
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) July 11, 2014
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says although faces had changed at the Cabinet, there was no difference in direction.
“All the evidence is that very little will change because of this reshuffle,” he says.
“It’s a bit like cosmetic surgery, except nothing major has changed. The public want a new direction, not just new faces.”
***
The gangs almost all here. #reshuffle pic.twitter.com/ZH6hTg74Nn
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) July 11, 2014
The Taoiseach's announced the Cabinet reshuffle with five new faces in Government.
Enda Kenny and Joan Burton have also appointed a new super junior post of Minister for Business and Employment.
It's out for Jimmy Deenihan, Phil Hogan, Eamon Gilmore, Pat Rabitte and Ruairi Quinn.
Enda Kenny's promoted Paschal Donohoe to Cabinet to Transport, Tourism and Sport after a short stint as a junior Minister and in a bigger surprise is bringing first time TD Heather Humphries into the Government as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Leo Varadkar will move to Health, with the Department of Children becoming the new home for James Reilly who will take over from Charlie Flanagan who has only been in the job for a short time.
The Laois Offaly TD moves to Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Richard Bruton has held on in Jobs, as has Simon Coveney in Agriculture who also gets the Defence portfolio.
In Labour, Alan Kelly goes to Environment, Jan O'Sullivan goes to Education and Alex White to Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Ged Nash also becomes the super junior in the Department of Jobs with the title Minister for Business and Employment.
There was also confirmation that Phil Hogan will be Ireland's nominee to the European Commission.
So, here's the new Cabinet:
Leo Varadkar (FG) - Sport and Transport to Health
James Reilly (FG) – Health to Children
Jan O’Sullivan (Labour) – Housing (super junior) to Education
Charlie Flanagan (FG) – Children to Foreign Affairs
Paschal Donohoe (FG) – Transport
Heather Humphreys (FG) – Arts
Alex White (Labour) – Communications
Alan Kelly (Labour) – Environment and Local Government
Ged Nash (Labour) – Business and Employment (super junior)
Michael Noonan (FG) – Finance
Brendan Howlin (Labour) – Public Expenditure and Reform
Joan Burton (Labour) – Social Protection
Richard Bruton (FG) – Jobs
Simon Coveney (FG) – Agriculture and Defence
Frances Fitzgerald (FG) – Justice
Paul Kehoe (FG) – Government Chief Whip/junior defence minister
Phil Hogan (FG) – out of Environment - now Ireland’s EU Commissioner
Jimmy Deenihan (FG) – out of Arts - now junior minister for diaspora
Pat Rabbitte (Labour) – out of Communications
Eamon Gilmore (Labour) – out of Foreign Affairs
Ruairí Quinn (Labour) – out of Education
Heather Humphries gets Arts, Alan Kelly's in Environmentand Jan O'Sullivan is new Education Minister.
Alex White is the new Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Charlie Flanagan is to be Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Paschal Donohoe moves into Transport, Tourism and Sport
James Reilly gets children and youth affairs portfolio.
Phil Hogan announced formally as EU Commissioner
Leo Varadkar gets Health portfolio
Ged Nash is super junior for business and employment.
Jimmy Deenihan at Dept of Taoiseach.
RTE's Martina Fitzgerald says Dr Reilly is to get a Dept of Children and Public Health.
The vote's been passed, so the Dáil has been adjourned until 1.40pm.
Dáil voting to suspend the chamber for 15 minutes to allow for the announcement. Looking like it will be closer to 1:40pm for the reshuffle announcement.
There is also a rumour about James Reilly getting Public Health (and Children). Being seen as a move to allow him to continue his work on tackling smoking.
Announcement delayed again. Now expected for 1.15pm.
Newstalk reporting that Simon Coveney could be given the Defence brief along with Agriculture?
Also saying that Charlie Flanagan is moving to Foreign Affairs and Trade.
One junior minister just remarked that he thinks the delay in announcing reshuffle must mean there's been some hitch...#reshuffle
— Katie Hannon (@KatieGHannon) July 11, 2014
Brendan Howlin to stay in Public Expenditure and Reform, according to RTE, while the Independent is linking Heather Humphreys with Arts, but Mary Mitchell O'Connor's name is also in there.
Paschal Donohoe now being mooted for Transport Ministry.
Reports that Labour's Alex White is nominated as the Minister for Communications.
The announcement has now been pushed back to 1pm.
UPDATE: Time for Taoiseach's announcement of cabinet in Dáil at approx 1pm. For further updates #staytuned #reshuffle
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) July 11, 2014
It is being reported that Richard Bruton will stay in the jobs portfolio.
Fine Gael sources confirm Leo Varadkar set for Hawkins House as new Health Minister. #dail
— Juno McEnroe (@Junomaco) July 11, 2014
Suggestion that community care might go from Health into Children, to ease workload. However, carve up of Depts may be v limited: Gov source
— Juno McEnroe (@Junomaco) July 11, 2014
History could be made, if two women are brought in to the Cabinet there will then be 4 women in Cabinet - Mary Hanafin #TodaySOR
— Today with Claire Byrne (@TodaywithClaire) July 11, 2014
Simon Coveney is expected to remain in Agriculture and on the Labour side the party is also getting a super junior post in the area of jobs and Ged Nash will take up that position.
Cabinet announcement not now at 12, more likely 12:30pm.
For those who missed the Angelus…
BONG! BONG! BONG! ... BONG! BONG! BONG! ... BONG! BONG! BONG! ... BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG!
— The Angelus (@The_Angelus_Ire) July 11, 2014
***
The new Cabinet was due to be announced at noon.
Enda Kenny and the new Labour leader Joan Burton have had four days of talks focusing on both the new policy document and the Cabinet reshuffle.
It is expected there will be just one new face on the Fine Gael side, with three from Labour.
Subject to Dáil business, new Cabinet to receive seals of office in Áras an Uachtaráin @ 3pm approx #reshuffle
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) July 11, 2014
Paschal Donohoe and Damien English are rumoured to be entering Cabinet to fill Deenihan's seat and that left vacant by Phil Hogan.
Meetings with the Taoiseach are underway, with Fine Gael Deputy Leader James Reilly rumoured to be moved to the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, from health.
It is expected that the current Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, will take over the Department of Health.
On the Labour side, deputy Leader Alan Kelly is to take over at the Department of the Environment and Housing. Education may go to Kathleen Lynch or Jan O'Sullivan, and Communication is rumoured for Alex White.
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste will also outline their priorities, with promises for social housing and free GP care for over-70s.
The announcement of a low-wage commission is also expected, which would explore the possibility of raising the minimum wage.
