John Downing

Taoiseach Micheál Martin following the first cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle. Photo: Julien Behal/PA Wire

John Downing Opinion Hidden vestiges of 'old FF' emerge just days after its return to power

Little more than a week "back in town" but already up to its oxters in the wars, it's tempting to say "meet new Fianna Fáil - it's more than a bit like old Fianna Fáil". Today, Barry Cowen will once again publicly apologise, this time in the Dáil, following one of the most unequivocal and sincere public apologies delivered on RTÉ on Sunday.

Talking shop: Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, pictured in Malahide in 2018. Photo: Maxwells

John Downing Opinion As housing minister, O'Brien's performance will largely decide FF's fate in government

If Fianna Fáil is to face down its dreaded Sinn Féin threat, it will have to show real results on housing. So, enter Darragh O'Brien, the new Housing Minister who has a mega challenge ahead of him.

Allies: Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil is in the same EU political grouping as French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo: Ludovic Marin /Pool via REUTERS

John Downing Opinion Taoiseach needs a result on three big EU issues at his first Brussels leaders' summit

Albert Reynolds emerged from the marathon talks with his eyes blazing: "Eight billion, Diggy, eight billion … tell that to the begrudgers. Now watch me put a government together," he announced.

Keeping his distance: Jim O’Callaghan could be hoping to remain aloof from any coalition failures. Pic Tom Burke

John Downing Opinion Jim may be a threat but he 'ain't no Haughey'

Let's play my new board game called "Spot the spurned backbencher". No, on second thoughts that's too tricky, given lockdown board-game traumas. It's too fraught to present such a crowded field for prospective players.

John Downing Opinion Partial and belated recompense to the regions was marred by two 'refuseniks'

So, how did Messrs Martin, Varadkar and Ryan do second time around? These junior ministry appointments were about fence-mending, with the regions by shaking off "Cromwell's shadow", and inside the three coalition parties where egos were bruised and supporters seriously riled up with disappointment.

Jack Chambers (FF) was among the list announced by the Taosieach this evening. Picture: Tom Burke

Explainer: Who are the new junior ministers and what jobs did they get?

THE new coalition government's line-up of junior ministers has been completed and Táoiseach Micheál Martin announced his full team tonight.

Chief Whip Dara Calleary arrives for the first Cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Junior ministers: Dara Calleary given sport and Gaeltacht role after cabinet snub

Fianna Fáil deputy Dara Calleary has been given a ministerial boost by being handed responsibility for Sport and the Gaeltacht.

John Downing Opinion A glance back at the list of previous chief whips reveals some big names, it might well stand to Calleary later

Bertie Ahern was driving his boss Charlie Haughey around his Dublin Central constituency in his battered red Ford Escort.

Tactical move: Phil Hogan has announced that he will not follow through on his initial intention to campaign for the role of World Trade Organisation head.
PHOTO: FERGAL PHILLIPS

John Downing Opinion Bad timing forces Hogan to bow out of the WTO job race - but Donohoe may benefit

The timing meant Phil Hogan's bid to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was just not worth the risk.

Nine Green Party TDs were overlooked when Senator Pippa Hackett was appointed to her role as a ‘super-junior’ Cabinet member

'Leap-frog' promotion for Hackett leaves many Greens feeling annoyed

The surprise promotion of Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett to a "super-junior" Cabinet post has enraged some of the party's other nine TDs who did not make the Government first team.

Phil Hogan quits race for top world trade job citing pressure of EU work in Brussels

Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has withdrawn from the contest to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Close ties: Leo Varadkar (left) talks with Micheál Martin inside the Convention Centre in Dublin. Photo: Maxwells

John Downing Opinion Collins and Dev on the same wall could be more than just a clue about things to come

So anyone for a merger? Maybe Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, as they sit in Cabinet together today for their first serious working session, should now go the whole hog.

'Leap-frog' promotion for Hackett leaves many Greens feeling annoyed

The surprise promotion of Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett to a "super-junior" Cabinet post has enraged some of the party's other nine TDs who did not make the Government first team.

Challenge: Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin at Government Buildings during talks on a programme for government. Photo: Gerry Mooney

John Downing Opinion Micheál Martin defies political gravity by losing three elections and being dubbed 'former future leader' to become Taoiseach

Imagine a keen student of politics trying to grasp the Micheál Martin riddle. He lost three consecutive general elections, in 2011, 2016 and 2020.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and deputy party leader Catherine Martin. Photo: Tom Burke

John Downing Opinion One more time – the Green Party faithful take their second leap of faith in two decades

The Green Party faithful are working off the simplest of maxims: “If not now – when?”

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Caroline Quinn/Damien Eagers/Leon Farrell/PA)

Three amigos? The political careers of Martin, Varadkar and Ryan - the leaders set to shape the nation's future

Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan are set to play the key roles in an historic coalition government. Our political team look at each individual throughout their political careers.

All eyes on the Greens: Party leader Eamon Ryan at Leinster House for talks on forming a coalition. photo: Collins

Who is set to form next government and will there be another election - the five most likely options revealed

We expect to learn our political fate at about 7pm today.

John Downing Opinion Some in FF fear SF eating further into their support

'The squeaky wheel gets the grease," the old adage has it.

John Downing Opinion Five recent votes teach us the Greens' two-thirds bar is hard to clear

Stragglers have until bang up to midday this Friday to manually deliver a late vote which could decide the fate of the nation.

Bruton to unveil laws for €500m climate fund

Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton will today publish draft legislation to establish the €500m climate change fund and allow the use of a levy on fossil fuels to pursue these aims.

John Downing Opinion Fate of the leaders hangs in the balance as parties deliver verdict on coalition

'The first tears to dry are the tears of gratitude," the 19th- century American showman PT Barnum is quoted as saying. And Leo Varadkar got a lesson in the verity of that aphorism on election day.

Expert group to review limit on church services

Leo Varadkar is to ask the coronavirus expert group to examine the prospect of increasing the number of people permitted to attend religious services.

The number of people allowed attend church increases to 50 on Monday, June 29, and it is planned to further increase this to 100 people from July 20. Stock picture

Expert committee asked by Government to look at further increasing limits on church attendances

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar will ask the coronavirus expert committee to examine the prospect of increasing the number of people permitted to attend religious services.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar adressing media at a Government Covid-19 Press Briefing at Government Buildings. Pic Steve Humphreys

Taoiseach lays down marker for bigger share of €750bn EU aid

Ireland's campaign for a better share of the €750bn EU post-coronavirus economic recovery aid package will be fought to a finish next month.

Taoiseach lays down marker for bigger share of €750bn EU aid

Ireland's campaign for a better share of the €750bn EU post-coronavirus economic recovery aid package will be fought to a finish next month.

United front: Former Tánaistí Mary Harney, Joan Burton, Mary Coughlan and Frances Fitzgerald at a ‘Women in Government’ event in 2018. PHOTO: CAROLINE QUINN

In Focus: Widespread progress under Dick Spring secures his spot on top of the Tánaiste tree, but how did others fare?

Tánaiste is a strange job. Two short sentences in the Constitution covering it effectively say this person occasionally gets to be "boss when the boss is out".

Government backs Hogan for top job at WTO

The Government has backed Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan for the post of director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

Government endorses Irish Commissioner Phil Hogan for World Trade Organisation chief

The Government has backed Irish EU Commissioner, Phil Hogan, for the post of director general of the World Trade Organisation.

Taoiseach to argue for bigger slice of €750bn virus aid

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will today make Ireland's case for a bigger share of the planned €750bn EU coronavirus economic aid fund.

Catherine Martin and her husband Francis Noel Duffy. Picture: Mark Condren

John Downing Opinion It would be interesting to be a fly on the Martin/Duffy kitchen wall - after pair took opposite sides on coalition deal

It would be interesting to be a fly on the Martin/Duffy kitchen wall at breakfast time to puzzle out this one. Catherine Martin is for this coalition deal, while her husband and Dáil colleague, Francis Noel Duffy, is against it.