No time for quietly settling in...

Taoiseach Martin calls for ‘new way’ ith emphasis on working together

- FERGHAL BLANEY

TAOISEACH Micheal Martin has unveiled a new Cabinet with some surprising promotions, big-name demotions and shock omissions.

The Fianna Fail leader formally took the reins of power last night as head of the new coalition of his party, Fine Gael and the Greens, with one of his first tasks to announce his new team of ministers to the nation.

There are six Fianna Fail ministers, six Fine Gael ministers and three Green ministers now in charge of the country.

Fine Gael boss Leo Varadkar will serve as Mr Martin’s Tanaiste and will take over as Taoiseach in December 2022 as part of the new deal.

Inevitably there was a cull of senior Fine Gael ministers, with Eoghan Murphy, Charlie Flanagan, Joe McHugh and Michael Ring among the big names sent packing.

And there were some new Fianna Fail names everyone will get used to, none more so than first-time TD Norma Foley from Kerry, who has been given the massive brief of Education.

Stephen Donnelly getting Health saw him surprise many pundits and leapfrog others who were expecting the call.

Chief among these was the party’s deputy leader, Dara Calleary, who was overlooked for a senior ministerial role, only getting the Chief Whip’s job.

This is regarded as a Super Junior Minister job and he does get a seat at the Cabinet table.

As do the other two new Super Juniors appointed last night, Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton and Green Senator Pippa Hackett.