Speculation mounts that Gormley will lose Cabinet post

Speculation about the Taoiseach Brian Cowen's Cabinet reshuffle is continuing after the Greens refused to deny reports John Gormley's Ministerial position could be rotated to Ciaran Cuffe.

A spokesperson for the party refused to deny outright that a deal was done in 2007 and that it exists in writing.

The Green Party Chairman Dan Boyle also appears to be adding to the speculation by saying that rotation in politics brings fresh thinking.

It was claimed that in 2007 a deal was done that in a mid-term reshuffle of the Government, John Gormley would take a junior Minister's job and allow for the Dun Laoighre TD Ciaran Cuffe take up the Cabinet job.

A Green spokesperson would only say this was speculation and that discussions on the Greens' role in a new Cabinet were ongoing between Mr Gormley and Mr Cowen.

On Twitter Green Chairman Dan Boyle declared John Gormley will decide when or if he is to leave Cabinet, that it could be tomorrow, it could be two years time.

And in a radio interview he said that globally the Greens think that rotation brings fresh thinking.