Burton denies Labour got raw deal in reshuffle

Tánaiste Joan Burton has moved to allay concern among some Labour TDs that she got a raw deal in the attempted Government relaunch, as Taoiseach Enda Kenny prepared to sack a number of junior ministers.

With announcement of the junior minister positions in the Coalition set to complete the Government changes tomorrow, Ms Burton denied Labour had failed to land the departments it wanted, and that Mr Kenny had deliberately stolen her thunder by announcing free over-70s GP care by himself.

The Taoiseach is set for a clear-out of ministers from the junior ranks, with Fergus O’Dowd said to be fighting a rear-guard action to stay on. Those in danger of being axed include John Perry, Dinny McGinley, and Ciarán Cannon.