Taoiseach and Tánaiste to try and resolve gender and regional imbalance within Cabinet

There is an expectation that Charlie McConalogue could be offered a role on the junior benches

The new Ministers gathered for a portrait after being appointed to Cabinet by President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin on Thursday. Photo: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Both Micheál Martin and Simon Harris will seek to address criticisms of the gender and regional balance of their Cabinet picks when junior ministries are announced next week.

It is expected that 23 junior ministers will be announced next Wednesday, though only 20 will be able to take up their roles the following week, due to the current legislation only allowing for 20 ministers of state.