Ahern may wait until January to replace Callely

The Taoiseach may not fill Ivor Callely’s job until the New Year and it is likely to go to for a North Dublin backbencher, it emerged today.

After controversy on the issue overshadowed Budget Day, Bertie Ahern today told the Dáil he had accepted the resignation of Minister of State.

However, Mr Ahern is not not expected to fill the vacancy in the Transport Department until the Dáil resumes after the Christmas recess on January 25.

Fianna Fáil backbenchers Pat Carey, Jim Glennon, Sean Haughey and Sean Ardagh are all believed to be on the shortlist to replace Mr Callely.

Because of the importance of the ministerial brief – traffic management issues in Dublin and the major cities, road haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority - it was not clear today if Mr Ahern would promote a backbencher or ask a sitting junior minister to move sideways and then fill that vacancy with a TD.

Mr Carey, a Dublin-North West TD, today said he would relish the opportunity to become a junior minister.

“It would be nice. I would give it my best. It would be a challenge but a chllenge I would relish.

“Everything I have been asked to do, I have done my best,” he explained.

A comfortable media performer, he regularly appears on radio and television to represent the Government.

He is also a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and one of a select few of TDs that stand in for the Ceann Comhairle.

Mr Carey said he had a good working relationship with the Taoiseach and also got on well with his brother, Noel who shares his constituency.

A former vice-principal, Mr Carey was first elected to the Dail in 1987.

Mr Carey later joked: “I seem to get mentioned every time there is a vacancy. If the Head Usher’s job came up in the Dail today, I’d probably be mentioned for it as well.

Dublin South-Central TD Sean Ardagh said today he didn’t have high expectatios for the position.

“I’m not holding out any hope. It will go to the northside,” he said.

First elected in 1997, Mr Ardagh has enjoyed a high public profile as chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights.

Mr Callely’s fellow constituency TD Sean Haughey may also be in the frame for his first ministerial appointment.

A son of the former Taoiseach and grandson of Sean Lemass, Mr Ahern may use the move to retain links with party supporters loyal to Haughey Snr.

Also chairman of an Oireachtas committee, the former Lord Mayor of Dublin has sat on the backbenchers since 1992 and is the most senior of the potential candidates.

Former rugby international Jim Glennon may also get the nod from Mr Ahern to consolidate the party’s position in the Dublin North constituency.

Serving in his first Dáil term, Mr Glennon is vice-chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.