The Taoiseach and his new Cabinet are spending their first full day in office after receiving their seals of office last night.
The first meeting of the new Government took place at Áras an Uachtarán last night with Leo Varadkar setting out his priorities such as Brexit, health and housing.
It was nearly 11pm when the Dáil voted to pass the nomination of the reshuffled ministerial line up – several delays to proceedings earlier in the evening with some speculation they were because MMOC was unhappy at her demotion to a super junior post.
So it was 11:30 before the busload of ministers arrived at the Aras to get their seals of office and their first Cabinet meeting could get underway.
That meeting saw the four super juniors formally appointed – the rest of those posts will be filled next week.
But more men named Sean and John have been elected to the new Dáil than the total number of women.
Former jobs minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor was the only person to be demoted – to a ‘super junior’ role.
Ministers also heard from Leo Varadkar exactly what he wants done in areas like Brexit, Northern Ireland, Health and housing.
No Dáil business will be conducted today to allow Ministers visit their departments and read into their briefs before the next sitting next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the transport minister’s launched a stinging attack on Fianna Fáil after they accused him of cronyism.
There’s been uproar that Shane Ross agreed to the appointment of former Attorney General Máire Whelan to the Court of Appeal on the same day he secured the re-opening of Stepaside Garda station in his Dublin constituency.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says the situation “stinks”, but Shane Ross hit back last night.
