Junior ministerial line-up to be unveiled

The Coalition is expected to announce a raft of junior ministerial appointments today including new positions in social protection and environment.

Several junior ministers could be dropped when the appointments are decided.

TDs facing challenges to get re-elected will pay particular attention to who Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton choose as their ministers of state. While Labour has command over five positions, Fine Gael has control over nine ministerial junior posts.

Ms Burton, the Labour leader, may have a junior minister appointed to her department.

A rural affairs portfolio is also expected to be announced in the Department of Environment, with much speculation that it could go to Carlow/Kilkenny TD Ann Phelan.

Elsewhere in Labour, Kathleen Lynch will remain on as a minister of state in health, with the additional responsibility of primary care. Cork colleague Seán Sherlock is also expected to keep hold of a ministerial post, although he may be moved out of jobs.

There were also suggestions last night that Dublin TDs Joanna Tuffy and Kevin Humphreys could be promoted.

However, there were doubts as to whether Joe Costello will hold onto his post as minister for Irish aid.

In Fine Gael, Mr Kenny will replace ministers in the OPW and in European affairs. Several options are possible here but many suggested last night that Louth’s Fergus O’Dowd and Dublin South East’s Eoghan Murphy were strong contenders for either posts.

But there were doubts as to whether Gaeltacht Minister Dinny McGinley and Ciarán Cannon, the junior education minister, would hold onto their posts.

Several other Fine Gael backbenchers who may be promoted include Dún Laoghaire’s Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Cork North Central TD Dara Murphy.

It is also extremely likely that Wicklow TD Simon Harris — who narrowly missed out on a seat in the European elections — will also be given a junior ministry.

Mr Kenny has already said that Jimmy Deenihan, the former arts minister, will be given a special junior minister position in charge of overseeing the diaspora in his department.

Elsewhere, the Taoiseach is also expected to promote a backbencher from Meath with many suggesting this could be either Damien English or Regina Doherty.

Today’s Cabinet meeting is also expected to discuss the promised mother and baby home inquiry. The Coalition has already said the terms of the commission of investigation were expected to be decided before the summer.