Taoiseach rules out Cabinet reshuffle in near future

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out any Cabinet reshuffle over the next six months saying changing ministers is not a priority for him at the moment.

At the conclusion of the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting in Westport, Co Mayo, Mr Kenny referred to his wish that Government ministers focus on the major economic challenges ahead leading up to December’s Budget and that making departmental switches would not be helpful to that.

Asked about a Cabinet reshuffle at a press conference in the Knockranny House Hotel, Mr Kenny said: “It is not a priority of mine now. We have a very big job for the next six months, we have really serious and challenging things to do with the economy.

"It will be very hard at home and internationally and we have to make the progress that people want us to make."

It was also announced at the conference that Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar will be the Fine Gael director of elections for the referendum on children’s rights, which will be held later in the autumn.

Mr Kenny said the meeting had played an important part of Fine Gael’s preparations for the new Dáil session which begins next week and which will culminate with a Budget in which €3.5 billion of adjustments will need to be made.

“It is a critical period in the politics of the country. The focus was on key issues and on the budgetary situation and the Government's initiative in job creation area and also on the fundamental issue of child protection,” he said.

"The prevailing mood among the party’s TDs and senators was one of resolve and determination. We will not resile from the mandate given by the people but to fulfil it and make sure government runs its full term… to restore the economy to good health and make sure people get back to work.

“The party recognises clearly the scale of the challenge that faces us. We are resolved to deal with the challenging position that faces us in the time ahead," he said. "I do not underestimate the scale of the challenge that lies ahead. We never said that this was something that could be sorted out overnight or that it would be easy. What we said was the Government would not turn its back on making hard choices for the people.”

Mr Kenny would not be drawn on the nature or scale of property tax that will be introduced from July 2013 only to say that it would be unveiled on Budget day and the yield would be considerably lower than the €1 billion recommended by staff of the International Monetary Fund for its Chapter IV report on Ireland this week.

Asked to comment on a Fine Gael member of Cork County Council Michael Hegarty admitting that he is facing a possible drink-driving charge, Mr Kenny said he was not aware of the circumstances but there was “no case for anyone in this country to sit behind the wheel of a motor vehicle with alcohol”.

After the conference closed this afternoon, one group of eight Fine Gael parliamentarians began a climb of Croagh Patrick while another larger group,  including Mr Varadkar, went on a cycle along the 'Green Way' cycling route that links Westport and Achill Island.