Two sides of the same coin for Leo... both are useless

TRY as I might, I’m finding it hard to get worked up about Leo Varadkar’s victory and his imminent crowning as taoiseach.

I suppose we should be grateful that the brighter candidate won, but the problem with Leo is he has the look of a man who enjoys being in charge a little too much. And that’s seldom an attractive trait.

Now speculation is rife about who will be appointed to the great man’s cabinet.

Reports say Paschal Donohoe is likely to get two ministerial portfolios.

We’re told that Simon Coveney can have any job he wants, except finance minister, and may also be appointed tánaiste. It also appears that the ministerial career of the ludicrous Simon Harris, a key Coveney supporter, is in jeopardy.

In other news, Mr Varadkar is tipped to establish a Department of Home Affairs for the first time in the State’s history.

Only the taoiseach-in-waiting knows who will be on the new front-bench team, although it is perfectly possible that even he hasn’t made his mind up yet. But all will be revealed in a couple of weeks’ time.

Against that backdrop, I note that Independent Alliance member Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran took over as junior minister at the Office of Public Works over the weekend. I had completely forgotten that this was a job-share arrangement between him and fellow TD Seán Canney. But if memory serves, there were disapproving frowns from some quarters when the two men flipped a coin to decide who took the job first. I thought it was a perfectly logical way in which to settle the matter.

Come to think it, perhaps Leo Varadkar should consider a similar tactic himself. Given that he isn’t exactly surrounded by a wealth of talent, divvying up the cabinet positions on the toss of a 10c bit might be the most sensible course of action.