Simon Coveney to step aside from Cabinet, admitting leader Simon Harris ‘wants to create a new look of Fine Gael’

The Enterprise Minister and deputy Fine Gael leader has told taoiseach-designate Simon Harris that he does not want to be considered as part of the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Harris will now have a second vacancy at the Cabinet table on top of the space made available by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s departure.

Mr Coveney’s departure from Cabinet also indicates he will not be running in the next general election.

The Cork South Central TD and former Tánaiste said a week ago that he would be running, but his departure from Cabinet changes that situation.

Mr Harris will announce his new Cabinet next week.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne this morning, Mr Coveney said he informed Mr Harris of his decision last night.

“What I said to him last night was that I wouldn't be putting my name forward for consideration for Cabinet next week,” he said.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 2nd April 2024

“I respected the fact that he's made it clear that he wants to create a new look of Fine Gael in many ways, to promote new talent in the party.

“I know he was struggling with the decision in relation to who would be in and who’d be out, and I think that for me having been in the Cabinet... It has been an amazing experience for 13 years, which is a lot more than most politicians have the privilege of having.

“I felt that the time was right, both from his point of view and from mine, to give him the space to create new opportunity in the party and in Government. And he thanked me and respected that.”

Mr Coveney said stepping down was a “personal decision” that involved consideration of his family.

Mr Varadkar paid tribute to Mr Coveney in a post on social media.

"Simon has been a trusted colleague for my entire period in the Dail and in Government,” the Taoiseach posted on Meta’s new X competitor platform Threads – but not yet on X itself.

“He was alongside me as a fellow Minister in Enda Kenny’s first Cabinet in 2011, and has worked diligently in the interests of the nation, the Government and the Party since then. I was blessed to have him as my Deputy Leader, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

"This was particularly so on Brexit and our successful campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council and our policies to increase the budget for international development and our diplomatic footprint. He’s one of the hardest working and most loyal people I have ever had the privilege of working with. His decision to create more space for a new generation of Fine Gael leadership to step up is admirable. I look forward to continuing to work with him as a member of the parliamentary party.”

Mr Coveney rejected the suggestion that Mr Harris wanted him out of Cabinet.

"One of the most difficult things as an incoming party leader and incoming taoiseach is to form a team that can slot into government well, particularly in an election year,” Mr Coveney said.

"I totally respect that's a really difficult decision for Simon. He's going to be the youngest taoiseach ever, he's a really talented person.

"I think he'll want to bring forward new ideas and new energy in the party. And I think he'll want to bring a team with him to do that.”

He said he didn't know if Mr Harris was going to ask him to be "part of that team or not".

"I think it makes life easier for him. And I think it's also a recognition by me, too, that Fine Gael needs renewal," said Mr Coveney.

He added that Fine Gael needs to find a way of renewing and refreshing itself, and bringing forward new “faces, voices, and ideas”. Leo Varadkar’s resignation “started that process”, he said.

Reflecting on his decision, Mr Coveney stated: "I've had a chance to really think about it from a personal point of view over Easter with my family.

"I've had an amazing 13 years at the centre of Government. And I think we've got lots of ambitious talent in the party and I’m going to now make it a bit easier.

"It may have happened anyway, I don't know. But I make it a bit easier for Simon to promote that talent now.”

Mr Coveney said he was initially surprised when Mr Varadkar stepped down, but insisted it has started “a train of events” that can be “positive” for Fine Gael.

“[Leo Varadkar] has given extraordinary service to Ireland, both as a leader of Fine Gael and more importantly as Taoiseach. He felt that his energy levels and his leadership of the party had reached an end,” he said.

"He wanted to provide an opportunity for somebody else to lead through the election cycle that we're heading for now. My reasons are a little different. I've got loads of energy at the moment. I'm energised by politics as I've always been.

“We’ve had, in many ways, within Fine Gael, a political earthquake over the last few weeks.

“I spent quite a bit of time thinking about that over the weekend as to what my role in that process is and will be."

Mr Coveney said he doesn’t think other members of the Cabinet should follow in his footsteps and step down – certainly not the Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.

“Pascal has been arguably the most successful finance minister that this country has ever had – and I don't say that lightly,” Mr Coveney said.

“He’s done an extraordinary job through very, very turbulent and difficult years for Ireland, and I think he's a huge asset for Simon to use, and I hope Paschal’s in the Cabinet for the country's sake,” he added.

Mr Coveney said he remains "absolutely committed" to Fine Gael, and that he "absolutely supports" Simon Harris.

Meanwhile, he added he’s happy with his decision, but it doesn’t mean he’s “out of energy”.

“I’m a committed TD for Cork South Central. I intend on continuing to be that for the foreseeable future.

“I have to decide now what the future is for me and how I can contribute, and that's something I'm not going to rush. Now, I'm going to have a little bit more time to focus on my constituency and our candidates that are running for local elections and for the European elections too.”

‘Blessed’

Meanwhile, the outgoing Taoiseach has said he was “blessed” to have Simon Coveney as a colleague and ally in Government.

Leo Varadkar said: "Simon has been a trusted colleague for my entire period in the Dáil and in Government.”

Mr Varadkar added: "He was alongside me as a fellow minister in Enda Kenny's first Cabinet in 2011.”

Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Varadkar added that Simon Coveney had "worked diligently in the interests of the nation, the Government and the party" since entering Cabinet.

"I was blessed to have him as my Deputy Leader, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs," Mr Varadkar said.

Mr Coveney’s late father, Hugh Coveney, was a former TD and Cabinet minister, and his mother Pauline was a former mayor of Cork.

He is the second of six children. His brother Patrick was the chief executive of food giant Greencore until 2022, when he became CEO of SSP Group, which operates food and beverage outlets for travellers.

His younger brother Rory was head of strategy with RTÉ, overseeing the loss-making Toy Show The Musical, before leaving the broadcaster last year.

The Coveneys: All you need to know about 'the Kennedys of County Cork’

More to follow…