Politics

Cabinet holds first meeting after receiving seals of office

Kenny’s election was in doubt until minutes before the vote as negotiations faltered

There were surprises aplenty in the new Cabinet for the 32nd Dáil with Enda Kenny rewarding Independents support. Harry McGee Reports
Sat May 07 2016 - 12:22

The new Cabinet has held its first meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin following the approval in the Dáil yesterday of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s nominations.

President Michael D Higgins received the Ministers shortly after 11pm at the Áras where they were given their seals of office in the State Reception room.

The Taoiseach then chaired the first Cabinet meeting at the Áras which formally approved the programme for government and also the appointment of two Ministers of State. The meeting ended shortly after midnight.

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Mr Kenny's election was in doubt until minutes before the vote as negotiations with Independent TDs faltered with Roscommon TD Michael Fitzmaurice holding out for a relaxation of restrictions on turf cutting which are required under European law.

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Mr Kenny was elected by 59 votes to 49, one more than the 58 vote minimum required. Fianna Fáil's 43 TDs abstained as did the Green Party, while Sinn Féin, Labour, AAA- PBP and a number of Independents voted against Mr Kenny.

Mr Fitzmaurice broke with his colleagues in the Independent Alliance and abstained on the vote for Taoiseach but the other five members of the group supported Mr Kenny.

Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the new Government could represent “a major turning point for Irish democracy” with “absolute power” shifting from ministers to parliament, he declared.

“I commit myself and the incoming Government to work in partnership with the elected Members of this House to devise and implement solutions to the many problems facing our people,” Mr Kenny told the Dáil after his election.

Fianna Fáil’s 43 TDs abstained as did the Green Party, while Sinn Féin, Labour, AAA- PBP and a number of Independents voted against Mr Kenny.

All five members of the Independent Alliance will obtain ministerial office at some stage in the life of the Government.

Shane Ross is the group's representative at Cabinet as Minister for Transport while Finian McGrath will also attend Cabinet as Minister with responsibility for disabilities although he will not be a full member.

Denis Naughten of the Rural Alliance has been appointed to cabinet as Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources while Katherine Zappone becomes Minister for Children.

There were some surprises among the Fine Gael members of Cabinet, the most notable being Leo Varadkar's move from Health to Social Protection and the promotion from the backbenches of Dún Laoghaire TD Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

The big winners were Paschal Donohoe, who was promoted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and Simon Harris who has been elevated to Cabinet as Minister for Health.

Frances Fitzgerald was promoted to Tánaiste but remains Minister for Justice while Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan retained their posts.

Simon Coveney has been given the vital new post of Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government with responsibility for dealing with the housing crisis.

Speaking in the Dáil after his election the Taoiseach said there was no place or function for political pessimism and no limit to political possibility.

He said there had been a palpable sense in all the talks over the past 70 days, including with those who decided not to not join the Government, that politics has changed.

“I believe the 32nd Dáil will make a new collaborative approach not only with the partners of Government, but indeed, with the Opposition,” he said.

The new Cabinet is:

Department of Social Protection: Leo Varadkar

Finance: Michael Noonan

Public Expenditure and Reform: Paschal Donohoe

Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Michael Creed

Justice and Equality: Frances Fitzgerald (Tánaiste)

Children and Youth Affairs: Katherine Zappone

Health: Simon Harris

Foreign Affairs and Trade: Charlie Flanagan

Education and Skills: Richard Bruton

Housing, Planning and Local Government: Simon Coveney

Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Denis Naughten

Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shane Ross

Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Heather Humphreys

Defence: Enda Kenny

Minister of State at Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with Special Responsibility for Defence: Paul Kehoe