The newly formed Government has pledged an immediate trade offensive in the United States, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin also promising fresh reforms in housing, justice and climate.
A new Cabinet made up of 15 Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Ministers was appointed by Mr Martin on Thursday evening after the Dáil voted by 95 votes to 76 to elect the Fianna Fáil leader as Taoiseach for a second time.
Tánaiste Simon Harris, who was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, immediately moved to convene a trade conference of all Irish consulates and embassies in the United States.
Mr Harris said this is “with the sole focus of targeting the thousands of decision-makers in the Trump administration and ensuring they know the two-way relationship and strength of Irish investment in the United States”. The entire trade division led by an assistant secretary general will move to Iveagh House.
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Mr Martin pledged to develop “a new relationship” with the United Kingdom that will see “regular, formal summits” held while all Ministers will be tasked with building fresh bilateral relations.
The newly appointed Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, will lead efforts to reform the department, with a new division due to “take responsibility for the control of our borders”, Mr Martin said. This will be headed up by a secretary general with an individual budget and more direct oversight. On housing, a co-ordination and implementation group will operate from the Department of the Taoiseach while a new “climate clearing house” will also be established by Mr Martin.
There was strong criticism of the make-up of the new Cabinet, however, with only three women appointed to senior ministries. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told Mr Martin in the Dáil that “you’ve got the gender balance wrong. You’re very male, some of you are pale, but you are very male.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik also criticised the make-up of the Cabinet, while Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said “there are now as many men named James in the Cabinet as there are women”. The Women For Election group said it was “shocking and disappointing”.
There were few surprises on the Fine Gael side, as Longford-Westmeath TD Peter Burke was the only Minister to hold on to his existing brief, at Enterprise. Dún Laoghaire TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was promoted to Minister for Health, while Kildare South TD Martin Heydon was promoted to Minister for Agriculture. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe swapped places with Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance Jack Chambers, who took the Department of Public Expenditure.
Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee is the new Minister for Education, while Patrick O’Donovan is now the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.
In Fianna Fáil, the biggest change was for outgoing Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, who will move over to the Department of Transport, Environment and Climate Change with Wexford TD James Browne becoming the new Minister for Housing. Mayo TD Dara Calleary saw off competition from other senior Fianna Fáil TDs to become the new Minister for Social Protection, with Waterford TD Mary Butler – who had been tipped as a contender for a senior ministry – becoming the new Chief Whip. Norma Foley is the new Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. There was also a promotion for Kildare North TD James Lawless, as he becomes Minister for Higher Education.
The process of electing a Taoiseach finally got under way on Thursday after it was agreed that the Regional Independent Group, who support the Government, would not be given Opposition speaking time in a new technical group. Although Labour TD Alan Kelly said the agreement was “iron clad”, the matter will now be considered by a new Dáil reform committee.
The Regional Independent Group also described the solution as a “temporary measure”, in a sign that the matter may still prove contentious.
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