Irish Government reshuffle due

The resignation of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore – to take effect on 4 July – will prompt a major reshuffle in the Irish Government, including the appointment of a new Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Gilmore announced his departure after the Labour Party polled 7 per cent of votes in the local government elections and 5 per cent in the European Parliament elections. Joan Burton, the current deputy leader, has been nominated to succeed him and a contest is expected.

A total of 16 ministers serve in the Irish Cabinet: 11 from Fine Gael and five from Labour. Alan Shatter (Fine Gael) held the positions of Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence prior to his resignation. He has been succeeded by Frances Fitzgerald in the justice brief while Taoiseach Enda Kenny is acting Minister for Defence.

There are a further 15 ministers of state, including Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes who was elected as an MEP for Dublin. The administration was formed in March 2011 and the next general election is due to be held in the spring of 2016.

Gilmore had led Labour since 2007 and has been TD for Dún Laoghaire since 1989. A trade union organiser by background, he joined Labour in 1999 and was previously a member of Democratic Left and the Workers’ Party.