Cowen puts final touches to his cabinet line-up

INCOMING taoiseach Brian Cowen was putting the finishing touches to his first cabinet last night as ministers anxiously awaited news of their fates.

Who takes over from him in the two key posts of finance minister and tánaiste he vacates on Wednesday, when he will succeed Bertie Ahern, will strongly determine the outlook of his government.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin remains a favourite for the exchequer portfolio, with competition from Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and the outside possibility of justice minister Brian Lenihan.

However, it was expected Mr Lenihan, being in cabinet less than a year, is more likely to take the prize of tánaiste if Mr Cowen wants to restore a country/Dublin split to the two top jobs.

The main rival for the tánaiste post if the new taoiseach prefers a gender balance is Mary Coughlan, who is strongly tipped for promotion, most likely by replacing Mr Martin at the enterprise department if he moves upwards.

Tom Kitt has emerged as a strong contender for cabinet promotion after proving himself to be a safe pair of hands as chief whip. A move to agriculture or the arts portfolio could be in the offing for the Dublin TD.

The fates of Arts Minister Séamus Brennan and Transport Minister Martin Cullen appeared less certain as both could leave cabinet.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin may also face a sideways move in the shake-up.

Children’s Minister Brendan Smith is thought well of by the incoming taoiseach, but with complex negotiations still under way to hammer out an appropriate formula for the looming children’s rights referendum, he may be kept in his current position.

Cork TD Batt O’Keeffe could also see his star in the ascendancy when the posts are finally revealed on Wednesday.

Those ministers being eased out of position may be told their fate as early as tonight, so they can prepare for the adjustment, while more successful ones will have to wait until Wednesday when Mr Cowen is expected to be elected taoiseach by the Dáil.

He would then travel to Phoenix Park to receive his seal of office from President McAleese at 6pm, before returning later at 9pm with his full cabinet team.

The two Green ministers, John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, are expected to remain at their Environment and Energy posts.

PD Health Minister Mary Harney has stated she wants to remain in her current role. However, her position is not totally secure after a spate of political fire-fighting by her department.

Junior Minister Pat Carey could also see promotion in a bid to give north Dublin better representation in the Government.