Harris 'has to look at Cork as a counterbalance to Dublin' in ministerial ranks

The outgoing minister of state for public health said there is a significant argument for Cork to be well-represented at ministerial and junior ministerial level

Terry Murphy, the head of research at Fine Gael, opens a ballot box of votes on the draft programme for Government, at the Fine Gael HQ on Mount St, Dublin, on Monday. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA

Cork could see two of its newly elected TDs promoted to the ministerial ranks in a bid to "counterbalance" Fine Gael's strong representation in Dublin.

Fine Gael has been left without a senior minister across the entire Cork region after the departure of Simon Coveney. Former Munster-based ministers Michael Creed, David Stanton, and Brendan Griffin also exited politics in November.