An Irish government reshuffle is expected today (10 July) after discussions this week between Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who is also leader of the centre-right Fine Gael party, and Joan Burton, leader of the junior coalition partner, the Labour Party. The two have agreed on policy objectives for the remaining term, until general elections in April 2016. But announcements of the share-out of departments were still awaited as European Voice went to print.

The reshuffle follows the resignation by former Labour leader and foreign affairs and trade minister Eamon Gilmore, in the wake of disappointing results in the local and European elections in May. On Friday (4 July), the party membership elected Burton, the country’s minister for social protection, as his replacement – the first female leader of the centre-left Labour Party.

Kenny and Burton said they planned changes in ministerial posts, with likely promotions from the back-benches and more gender balance. Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who will most likely keep his post, said the nomination of the new Irish European commissioner will probably be part of the package.

Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan, the current environment minister, is hotly tipped to take over from Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the current Irish commissioner, although Gilmore is also mentioned as a candidate.

Ruairi Quinn, the minister for education, announced his resignation last week (2 July), saying that he wanted to “help clear a path for the next generation”. Quinn, who is from the Labour Party, was not expected to be kept on in the government. Among the Labour ministers, Leo Varadkar, who holds the transport post, is expected to take over from either Fine Gael’s James Reilly, the health minister, or Hogan if he quits as environment minister.

The government’s first electoral test is scheduled for September 2014, in by-elections in at least two constituencies.