Fianna Fáil to retain sport portfolio in junior ministerial reshuffle

Fianna Fáil is to retain the sport portfolio in the reshuffle of junior ministerial responsibilities, The Irish Times has learned.

Senior sources in both parties confirmed it had been agreed that the role, which is seen as a “good news” department, would go to Fianna Fáil.

Changes to the ranks of junior ministers are due to be announced on Wednesday.

It had been feared in Fianna Fáil that the sport portfolio would rotate to Fine Gael, as super-junior minister Jack Chambers had assumed the roles previously held by his colleague Hildegarde Naughton.

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Fine Gael sources said the party would have liked the portfolio but recognised that it would not be able to retain the Department of Rural and Community Development while also gaining the junior ministry for Sport.

Both are seen as roles that allow holders distribute a lot of local grants, benefiting the party, the minister and the local organisation. Fine Gael sources said the party will keep Rural and Community Development and the Minister of State with the responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), currently held by Limerick County TD Patrick O’Donovan.

The Gaeltacht portfolio was still said to be in play.

One of Dun Laoghaire TD Jennifer Carroll McNeill and Dublin Rathdown deputy Neale Richmond is expected to become Minister for European Affairs, with Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East Thomas Byrne likely to make way, perhaps assuming the sports brief. The current junior minister for drugs policy, Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan, was expected to be demoted, but sources were last night predicting that Minister for Special Education and Dublin Rathdown TD Josepha Madigan could be given a reprieve and kept in her role.

Colm Brophy is the other name that may make way for a promotion from the backbenches. Peter Burke and Damien English could also be reallocated responsibilities, but Fine Gael sources said Martin Heydon was likely to stay in the Department of Agriculture, where he is responsible for farm safety – and could even be given some more responsibilities.

Meanwhile there is a push underway to find a position for Kerry TD Brendan Griffin, who was disappointed not to be made chief whip having served as deputy chief whip so far in this government.

Fianna Fáil sources downplayed the possibility of wholesale changes, with Limerick County Deputy Niall Collins thought to be safe in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Waterford’s Mary Butler in the Department of Health, and Wexford’s James Browne unlikely to be moved from his role in the Department of Justice. Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte may be offered more responsibilities associated with the migrant crisis, and some sources were suggesting Mayo’s Dara Calleary, a former Cabinet minister, may see his portfolio change – although he has only recently moved into his role in the Department of Enterprise.

The likelihood of new junior ministerial positions, mooted in the weeks before Leo Varadkar was reappointed as Taoiseach, has now firmly receded. The Government is nervous about creating the impression of needless cost to the taxpayer.

Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Integration, had been the likely recipient of new junior ministerial assistance. Instead, he has requested extra staff in his department for next year.

Saturday’s historic changeover of power within the Coalition saw minimal changes at Cabinet after Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar assumed the role of Taoiseach from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

He is now Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs while Mr Martin’s predecessor in Iveagh House, Simon Coveney takes Mr Varadkar’s old job as Minister for Enterprise.