Taoiseach not planning to reshuffle Government despite pressure on ministers

Fianna Fáil’s underperforming ministers are safe from being dropped from Cabinet for now.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told reporters that he has no plans for a ministerial reshuffle, despite public anger at the performance of some ministers.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, are three Fianna Fáil appointments that have had a tough year in their portfolios.

Mr Donnelly’s handling of Covid, Mr O’Brien’s stalled plans to solve the housing crisis and Ms Foley’s management of schools during the pandemic have all come in for sustained criticism.

However, Mr Martin clearly believes that his top ministers are doing a good job as he revealed to reporters at the annual Christmas interview that there will be no imminent changes in the ranks while he is still Taoiseach.

It is more likely that a reshuffle will take place when Mr Martin steps down as Taoiseach and Leo Varadkar takes over this time next year.

Mr Martin praised the performance of his ministers.

He said: “Well, first of all I think the key focus for me is policy, getting the work done.

“When I became Taoiseach I was anxious that we would create structures that would enable us to deliver on the policy objectives within the programme for government.

“And to that extent we set up a fairly significant subcommittee structure within cabinet, particularly the key critical areas of housing, of climate, of economy, health, and education.

“And those committees are very important for not just getting into the fine detail of policy, but also following through and monitoring delivery.

“So my focus, and this is still early years in this government, is to really deliver now on the key commitments.

“We've made great progress, I would argue, so far. So I'm not speculating what's going to happen in 12 months time in terms of specific ministries or anything like that, that would be a matter that would be considered closer to that time.”

Mr Martin added: “I think the ministers are doing very well.

“I am of a view that consistency of policy and delivery is important.

“Chopping and changing all of the time might look good for a day or two, but nothing can beat the substance of getting real change.”