Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is set offer consolation prizes to a number of Fianna Fáil TDs who lost ministers of state rank after the last election when positions on Oireachtas committees are shared out tomorrow.
The Government will today finally establish 18 of the committees - nearly six months after the election - when Government chief whip Tom Kitt, moves a motion on the issue in the Dáil this afternoon.
However, the names are not to be released until tomorrow because outstanding last-minute issues with Fine Gael have not been resolved in time, although relations between the two parties are now said to be quite cordial following weeks of strain.
Former ministers of state Frank Fahey and Noel Treacy are understood to be on the Taoiseach's list, though frantic efforts were still under way last night by those left unrewarded to win Mr Ahern's favour.
Committee chairs are paid approximately €20,000 on top of their salaries, while vice-chairs receive about €10,000.
The Taoiseach is understood to have made a promise to Mr Fahey and Mr Treacy when he told them he was not reappointing them as junior ministers that he "would look after them" when it came to sharing out the chair positions.
Six new Oireachtas committees will be formed: constitutional amendment on children; the Belfast Agreement; economic and regulatory affairs; climate change and energy security, and EU scrutiny. Another committee on the Constitution, replacing an ad-hoc all-party committee on Constitution is also to be set up, and assigned the task of helping to draft a referendum to increase children's rights.
Mr Ahern has quite a degree of room to manoeuvre given the number of outgoing Fianna Fáil chairs who lost their seats in the election.
Despite this, however, the pressure for top places is intense. One worried Fianna Fáil TD asked late last night: "There have been no phone calls tonight. I've heard nothing. Have other people heard?"
Fianna Fáil Limerick West TD John Cregan, a close ally of Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, is to be rewarded with command of the Oireachtas communications committee, in place of Cork South Central TD Noel O'Flynn.
The Taoiseach's apparent decision to appoint former minister Mary O'Rourke, if confirmed later today, baffled and irritated more than a few Fianna Fáil backbenchers.
Galway East TD Noel Treacy, who enjoyed a remarkable 17-year junior ministerial career until he was finally demoted this year, is another to receive a compensation prize from Mr Ahern.
While needing to reward service, Mr Ahern must also find places for ambitious younger TDs, many of whom have begun to bridle at the slow promotion curve that exists under Mr Ahern's reign.
In addition, the fortunes of Laois/ Offaly's Seán Fleming, who had charge of the influential finance and public service committee in the last Dáil, will be closely observed.
However, the Government may have to postpone the announcement about six other committees, including one to be set up to inquire into climate changes, because of outstanding difficulties with Fine Gael.
Following some tense early exchanges with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael will get four committee chairs and five vice chairs.
