Wicklow TD On Course To Be Tánaiste As Programme For Government Published

Focus has now turned to who will make it to the Cabinet table for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Cabinet formation

Micheál Martin has seven senior Ministries to hand out with Darragh O'Brien, Norma Foley and Jack Chambers being seen as nailed on.

Outgoing Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, could be at risk with his brief transferring to Fine Gael.

In the frame for senior promotion are Dara Calleary, Mary Butler, James Browne and James Lawless - with the likes of Thomas Byrne and Jim O'Callaghan being seen as longer shots.

Lawless has been linked to the Transport brief while Mary Butler could be Minister for Children and Disabilities:

Meanwhile Wicklow TD Simon Harris is likely to retain Paschal Donohoe, Helen McEntee, Peter Burke and Patrick O'Donovan.
Though McEntee is unlikely to get the Justice Brief as it swaps to Fianna Fáil:

Contenders for promotion there include Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Martin Heydon and Alan Dillon.

Programme For Government

The Programme for Government has made commitments across a wide range of sectors.

The last government put plans in place for contactless payments to pay for public transport - with the tender signed and consultants hired.

Now, the next administration has committed to rolling out the service.

There will be a ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for children, which has been the subject of a campaign from the Irish Heart Foundation for a number of years.

Another big campaign was for tighter regulation around who can administer dermal fillers - and the Programme for Government commits to ensure they can only be carried out by healthcare professionals.

There is also an examination to take place for a potential tax credit for gym membership, which has been welcomed by Ireland Active.