Mary Coughlan today (Wednesday) takes a step closer to the office of Taoiseach.
The Frosses-based Agriculture Minister is to be promoted in the reshuffled Cabinet to be announced this afternoon by new Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
She is to be part of his confidential “inner Cabinet” on which he will rely heavily for guidance in ruling the government.
Leinster House insiders were last night confidently predicting that Ms Coughlan is likely to be given a major promotion to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment – a portfolio that would boost the prospects of easing the crisis in the jobs black-spot of County Donegal.
There was also a slim chance that the 42-year-old mother of two would remain in Agriculture with the added office of Tanaiste, ranking her directly second in command of the government with the task of deputising as Taoiseach when Mr Cowen is out of the country.
Ms Coughlan has been Agriculture Minister since June 2004 and a major consideration for Mr Cowen was whether it would be most advisable to keep her there with a crucial round of World Trade Organisation talks on the immediate horizon.
Farmers’ leaders also lobbied discreetly to keep her in the job, acutely aware that her close working relationship with Mr Cowen won some sizeable benefits for agriculture in his budgets.
Whichever portfolio Mr Cowen gives to Ms Coughlan it will serve the twin purpose of underlining his personal appreciation of her worth, and putting her a step closer to the prospect of one day being his successor and Ireland’s first woman Taoiseach.

Reporter: Paddy Clancy