Leo Varadkar discovers it’s difficult to find something for everyone

An absence of female ministers, punishment of his opponents, and the failure to promote several TDs were some of the complaints over Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s junior ministerial appointments.

It was going to be impossible to satisfy all 34 Fine Gael TDs who are not at Cabinet, including those clinging onto their portfolios, so Mr Varadkar had tough decisions to make.

Everything comes into play when promoting, reappointing and demoting junior ministers, including gender, geography and ability.