Dillon has 'ambition' - speculation mounts on junior ministerial appointment

By Tom O'Connor

SPECULATION has mounted in recent weeks that Mayo’s Alan Dillon is in line for a junior ministerial position once Simon Harris assumes office as Taoiseach today (Tuesday).

While talk of promotion of the Mayo Fine Gael TD has diminished in recent days, it has not dissipated.

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Galway, Dillon did not seek to 'add to that speculation'.

“I have a very important job as chair of the parliamentary party,” he said. “I’m not obsessed by making the ministerial ranks at this early stage in my political career.”

However, the former Mayo Gaelic football star admitted that “like any other politician, I have ambition.”

A strong ally of the new FG leader, Dillon acknowledged 'there will be extremely difficult decisions for Simon Harris'.

Asked about whether the soon-to-be Taoiseach should consider the lack of representation of County Mayo and the province of Connaught when selecting ministers, he said: “I think he does need a spread of cabinet ministers reflective of the regions.”

He added: “We have had ministers at cabinet from Mayo who have also done good jobs previously.”

Dillon believes that Simon Harris will take all these into consideration when he makes his decision.

However, he emphasised: “There is only a limited amount of jobs available and we all respect that.”

Simon Harris has three guaranteed vacancies to fill, including his own Higher Education role. The shock news of Simon Coveney’s decision to vacate cabinet also leaves his position to fill. While on the same day as Leo Varadkar’s resignation, Joespha Madigan announced her departure from politics, vacating a junior ministry in education.

Peter Burke and Jennifer Carroll McNeill are both tipped for a senior ministry, while Alan Dillon is linked with a role as Minister of State, to help balance the party which fears it’s become too Leinster heavy.

Galway West TD and government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton sits at cabinet in her position as a 'super junior' minister, but there hasn't been a senior cabinet minister from Connaught since the resignation of Dara Calleary from cabinet in 2020.

Dillon is popular figure in Fine Gael and has been widely regarded as a strong member of the party since his election to the Dáil in 2020, particularly in light of his time serving on the Public Accounts Committee.

Several attendees at the Ard Fheis spoke enthusiastically about the prospect of him nabbing a ministerial position.