Fine Gael members to vote on motion to increase income tax thresholds at ard fheis

Military aid for Ukraine will also be on the agenda

Simon Harris is expected to be appointed Taoiseach when the Dáil convenes on Tuesday and will then move to selecte his team of senior and junior ministers.

Fine Gael members will vote on motions to introduce a third tax band and increase income tax thresholds at the party's ard fheis this weekend.

Providing military aid to Ukraine is also on the agenda at the party's conference in Galway.

New leader Simon Harris will make a televised address on Saturday evening, outlining his vision for the party, as speculation on who he will elevate to cabinet next week mounts.

Mr Harris is expected to be appointed Taoiseach when the Dáil convenes on Tuesday and will then move to selecte his team of senior and junior ministers.

It is now being speculated that Cork TD Colm Burke could be made a Minister of State given the the departure of Simon Coveney from cabinet.

Another option being put forward to ensure there is a geographic spread of ministers is the possible promotion of Limerick's Patrick O'Donovan to cabinet from his current role as Minister of State for OPW.

Others in the mix to be offered a senior ministry include Peter Burke and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has made it clear that he will not be stepping down and will be running in the next general election.

Meanwhile, the Young Fine Gael (YFG) national executive has put forward a motion calling on the Government to introduce a middle-income tax band of 30%.

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Asked whether the coalition would adopt this policy, Finance Minister and Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath said he would be "guided by the programme for government", adding that it has "served us well".

Fine Gael members will also debate a motion that demands that the entry point to the higher tax rate be increased to at least €50,000 within the next two years.

The Pearse Morris Branch, which submitted the motion, believes that this change must be implemented "so that more money is put back in workers’ pockets".

Finance Minister and Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath said he would be 'guided by the programme for government'. 

Other motions to be discussed at the party gathering on Saturday include a call to introduce a premium salary for Dublin-based frontline workers and another seeking to speed up the introduction of the Fair Deal-type system to cover home care.

A motion from Dublin Rathdown YFG is calling on Fine Gael in Government to provide "lethal military aid" to Ukraine to support its struggle against the Russian invasion, while the Brussels branch has put forward a motion to asking that the Government stand ready to give Ukraine "whatever military support is necessary" to win the war, "acknowledging that Russian victory would be the first step to possible aggressive action against European Union Member States".

Meanwhile, Mr Harris has given a firm commitment that the party will continue to back and champion rural Ireland and the agriculture sector after a meeting with a party representative group on Thursday.

Speaking following the meeting with former IFA president Eddie Downey, who now chairs the Fine Gael, National Agricultural, Food and Rural Development Forum, Mr Harris said: “Farming makes a vital contribution to our economy and local communities.

"Farmers have had an incredibly difficult year this year because of the weather and this was an important opportunity to hear from them.

“It is now essential we gather that information and take concrete steps to address the concerns of this vital part of our economy and society.”