Burke a 'shoo-in' for cabinet promotion

It looks likely that Minister Peter Burke will be appointed Minister for Enterprise and Trade when Taoiseach-to-be Simon Harris announces his cabinet this evening, according to reports in the national media.

Minister Burke is seen as a “shoo-in” for promotion and many in Fine Gael are predicting he will replace Simon Coveney as Minister for Minister for Enterprise and Trade. If he does, he will make history by becoming the first Mullingar politician to hold a senior government ministry.

The Minister for Enterprise and Trade portfolio would appear to be a good fit for Minister Burke, who is an accountant by profession.

While many commentators believe that Minister Burke, who is close to the incoming taoiseach, will be appointed to a senior ministry, he wasn't taking anything for granted when the Westmeath Examiner spoke to him yesterday.

“I have seen racing certainties come unstuck in the past. It's up to the new taoiseach to make those hard and difficult decisions. All we can do is hope for the best.”