Menu
09/03/2011
New Irish Government To Be Sworn In
The new Irish coalition government is due to be sworn in today with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny officially elected Taoiseach.
The make-up of the expected 15-strong cabinet will be unveiled when Mr Kenny takes to his feet in the Dáil chamber alongside coalition partners Labour, led by Eamon Gilmore.
Centre-right Fine Gael and centre-left Labour signed-off on a programme for government on Sunday after almost a week of negotiations and hard bargaining on policies.
Fine Gael is expected to get 10 ministerial portfolios and Labour five.
The 31st Dáil will kick-off at noon when the new Ceann Comhairle (speaker of the House) will be elected, followed by the appointment of the new Taoiseach and members of the cabinet.
The new Taoiseach will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin – the residence of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, who will present them with their seals of office.
Once the new Taoiseach has received the seal of office, the announcement of the members of the new Cabinet can follow in Leinster House.
Fine Gael's Michael Noonan is widely expected to get the coveted Finance portfolio, while Labour is tipped for the Attorney General post, giving the smaller party potentially six seats at the Cabinet table.
Other Fine Gael TDs tipped for a ministry include programme for government negotiators Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter, as well as Richard Bruton, Leo Varadkar, Sean Barrett, James Reilly, Simon Coveney and Jimmy Deenihan.
Labour hopefuls include former leaders Pat Rabbitte and Ruairi Quinn, Roisin Shortall and Brendan Howlin, with the party's current finance spokesperson Joan Burton widely expected to get the new finance brief with responsibility for expenditure and public sector reform.
The Department of Finance will be split in two and the new finance minister will look after budgets and taxes while an estimates and public service reform minister will take control of spending and the overhaul of the public sector.
Kenny will face his first official engagement on Friday when he travels to Brussels for a European Council meeting, where he will meet with other heads of state.
The two parties have pledged to renegotiate last December's €85bn European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout.
Under the partnership deal, a new super-ministry will also be set up within the cabinet to take sole charge of the country's economic direction.
(JG/KMcA)
The make-up of the expected 15-strong cabinet will be unveiled when Mr Kenny takes to his feet in the Dáil chamber alongside coalition partners Labour, led by Eamon Gilmore.
Centre-right Fine Gael and centre-left Labour signed-off on a programme for government on Sunday after almost a week of negotiations and hard bargaining on policies.
Fine Gael is expected to get 10 ministerial portfolios and Labour five.
The 31st Dáil will kick-off at noon when the new Ceann Comhairle (speaker of the House) will be elected, followed by the appointment of the new Taoiseach and members of the cabinet.
The new Taoiseach will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin – the residence of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, who will present them with their seals of office.
Once the new Taoiseach has received the seal of office, the announcement of the members of the new Cabinet can follow in Leinster House.
Fine Gael's Michael Noonan is widely expected to get the coveted Finance portfolio, while Labour is tipped for the Attorney General post, giving the smaller party potentially six seats at the Cabinet table.
Other Fine Gael TDs tipped for a ministry include programme for government negotiators Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter, as well as Richard Bruton, Leo Varadkar, Sean Barrett, James Reilly, Simon Coveney and Jimmy Deenihan.
Labour hopefuls include former leaders Pat Rabbitte and Ruairi Quinn, Roisin Shortall and Brendan Howlin, with the party's current finance spokesperson Joan Burton widely expected to get the new finance brief with responsibility for expenditure and public sector reform.
The Department of Finance will be split in two and the new finance minister will look after budgets and taxes while an estimates and public service reform minister will take control of spending and the overhaul of the public sector.
Kenny will face his first official engagement on Friday when he travels to Brussels for a European Council meeting, where he will meet with other heads of state.
The two parties have pledged to renegotiate last December's €85bn European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout.
Under the partnership deal, a new super-ministry will also be set up within the cabinet to take sole charge of the country's economic direction.
(JG/KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 March 2011
New Dáil, New Day
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach yesterday by a historic margin of 117 votes to 27. The scale of the new Taoiseach's majority reflected the outcome of a dramatic election, which transformed Fine Gael into the biggest party in the Dáil for the first time.
New Dáil, New Day
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was elected Taoiseach yesterday by a historic margin of 117 votes to 27. The scale of the new Taoiseach's majority reflected the outcome of a dramatic election, which transformed Fine Gael into the biggest party in the Dáil for the first time.
26 October 2023
Fine Gael Senator Urged To Retract 'False And Baseless Accusations'
The Ulster Unionist Party has called on Fine Gael Senator, Emer Currie, to publicly retract her "false and baseless accusations" that some paramedics from Northern Ireland were prevented in assisting with the immediate response to the Creeslough explosion.
Fine Gael Senator Urged To Retract 'False And Baseless Accusations'
The Ulster Unionist Party has called on Fine Gael Senator, Emer Currie, to publicly retract her "false and baseless accusations" that some paramedics from Northern Ireland were prevented in assisting with the immediate response to the Creeslough explosion.
07 September 2011
Ireland Suggests Radical Budget Cuts
The second day of the Irish Republic's Fine Gael party 'think-ins' is ongoing with the Taoiseach saying that the government will not rule out tax cuts but also revealing EU's outlook on Ireland is improving. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the government was committed to cutting the deficit to 8.6 % next year and that increasing savings of €3.
Ireland Suggests Radical Budget Cuts
The second day of the Irish Republic's Fine Gael party 'think-ins' is ongoing with the Taoiseach saying that the government will not rule out tax cuts but also revealing EU's outlook on Ireland is improving. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the government was committed to cutting the deficit to 8.6 % next year and that increasing savings of €3.
22 February 2011
Fine Gael 'Virtually Winning' Irish Election
Fine Gael may be favourites to win Friday's Irish General Election, but users can virtually win it for them on their new online game. The party has launched a side-scrolling platform game on their website, allowing you to take control of a sprightly Enda Kenny, the Fine Gael leader, in his quest for votes.
Fine Gael 'Virtually Winning' Irish Election
Fine Gael may be favourites to win Friday's Irish General Election, but users can virtually win it for them on their new online game. The party has launched a side-scrolling platform game on their website, allowing you to take control of a sprightly Enda Kenny, the Fine Gael leader, in his quest for votes.
21 June 2010
FG Boss Kenny Visits Stormont
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is today holding talks with politicians at Stormont. Mr Kenny is leading a delegation that will meet with Secretary of State Owen Paterson, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The visit comes just after the Fine Gael leader won a no confidence vote last week within his party.
FG Boss Kenny Visits Stormont
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is today holding talks with politicians at Stormont. Mr Kenny is leading a delegation that will meet with Secretary of State Owen Paterson, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The visit comes just after the Fine Gael leader won a no confidence vote last week within his party.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
