Brennan 'threatened to quit Dáil if dropped from Cabinet'

The former Minister for Transport reportedly threatened to resign from his seat in the Dáil if he was dropped from the Cabinet in the government reshuffle.

An article in this morning's Sunday Business Post reports that threats by Seamus Brennan threw the Taoiseach's plans for the reshuffle into disarray.

The Tánaiste Mary Harney allegedly supported Minister Brennan and spoke to the Taoiseach on his behalf.

Bertie Ahern agreed to appoint Seamus Brennan as Minister for Social and Family Affairs just minutes before the new line-up was announced on Wednesday.

The change meant that Tom Kitt lost out on a ministerial post, moving instead to the position of Chief Whip.

Minister Brennan's resignation would have meant a by-election in his Dublin-South constituency, adding further to the problems facing Fianna Fáil with their up-coming by-elections in counties Meath and Kildare.