Speculation Simon Harris to take Finance Minister job as Paschal Donohoe resigns for role with World Bank

Speculation rife on who will be next finance minister

An announcement on Paschal Donohoe’s departure from national politics is expected in the coming hours, but already speculation is rife as to who will take over the finance brief following a reshuffle on the Fine Gael Cabinet side of the house.

The powerful finance brief is there for Tánaiste Simon Harris, the current foreign affairs minister, if the Fine Gael leader wants it.

That would then leave the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade up for grabs.

Notably, Peter Burke, the enterprise minister, is currently on a trade mission to Canada just days after the Government approved a bill which will enable the ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Burke and Harris have worked closely since January on the trade issue in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs so should Harris go to finance Burke would seem a safe bet for the DFA.

Cónal Thomas