'Fine Gael needs renewal': Simon Coveney to step down from Cabinet
Simon Coveney (right) with Simon Harris (left). Mr Coveney will not be part of the new Cabinet. File picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has confirmed that he will not form part of the incoming Taoiseach’s new Cabinet.
Mr Coveney confirmed he spoke with Simon Harris last night and informed him of his decision.
A Cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place next week when the Dáil resumes after Mr Harris is voted in as Taoiseach.
The Cork South Central TD said he would remain in place as a TD and would “actively support the Government in the Dáil”.
In a post on social media, Mr Coveney said: "Last night I spoke to Simon Harris to inform him that I would not be making myself available to serve in Cabinet when the Dáil resumes next week.
"I’ll continue to work as a proud TD for Cork South Central and will of course actively support the Government in the Dáil."
Mr Coveney said that after 13 years in Cabinet, he believed it was the right time to give Mr Harris “the space” to create a new opportunity for Fine Gael in Government.
His departure from Cabinet comes just days after his longtime press advisor, Chris Donoghue, was confirmed to be the new Government press secretary under a Simon Harris premiership.
He told RTÉ Radio One that it would be an opportunity to promote new talent within Fine Gael.
Mr Coveney said Mr Harris has a difficult decision to make in selecting his Cabinet.
“That's a really difficult decision for Simon. He's going to be the youngest Taoiseach ever. He's a really talented person. I think he'll want to bring forward new ideas and new energy in the party. And I think he'll want to bring a team with him, to do that," Mr Coveney said
“And I don't know whether he was going to ask me to be in Cabinet as part of that team or not. I know he was weighing that up. And we spoke about that both last week and again this week. But I think it makes life easier for him. And I think it's also, you know, a recognition by me, too, that Fine Gael needs renewal."
Mr Coveney said that Fine Gael had gone through a “political earthquake” in recent weeks. With the party hoping to be in Government for a fourth term after the next election, he said Fine Gael "needs to find a way of renewing itself, refreshing itself, bringing forward new faces, new voices, new ideas".
"And, in many ways, when Leo Varadkar decided to step down a couple of weeks ago, he started that process. And obviously, my initial reaction to that was to steady the ship, if you like, to work within the party to make sure that we could manage the transition to a new leader quickly, efficiently and professionally because the country needs that right now.
“But I've had a chance, really, to think about this from a personal point of view over Easter with my family.
"It may have happened anyway, I don't know. But I’ll make it a bit easier for Simon to promote that talent in that sense.”
In recent days, Mr Harris has been repeatedly asked about his plans for a Cabinet reshuffle but has declined to give any indication. Longford-Westmeath TD Peter Burke is likely to be elevated to Cabinet, while there is speculation that Dún Laoghaire TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will be promoted.
Mr Coveney was also asked if he would run in the next election, but declined to answer, saying it was not a question for this week. However, he said he is still a “committed TD” for Cork South Central.
“I’ll put a bit of thought into that over the next few months, but I’m not going to rush it,” he said.
On Fine Gael’s 13 years in Government, Mr Coveney denied that the party was “jaded” despite the high numbers of TDs retiring from politics at the end of the current Dáil.
Mr Coveney has been Enterprise Minister since 2022, having previously held portfolios in defence, foreign affairs, housing and agriculture.
The deputy leader of Fine Gael also served as Tánaiste from 2017 to 2020.
He ran against Leo Varadkar in a leadership contest for Fine Gael in 2017. When Mr Varadkar announced his resignation last month, Mr Coveneny firmly ruled himself out of the running for Fine Gael leader.
Mr Varadkar paid tribute to Mr Coveney, saying he has been a "trusted colleague" throughout his time in the Dáil.
Mr Varadkar said he was "blessed" to have Mr Coveney as both the deputy leader of Fine Gael and as Tánaiste.
"He's one of the hardest working and most loyal people I have ever had the privilege of working with," Mr Varadkar said, in a post on Threads.
"His decision to create more space for a new generation of Fine Gael leadership to step up is admirable."
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