Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that further discussions will take place between the three coalition leaders in the coming week in relation to the Cabinet reshuffle.
Preliminary talks among Government figures about the reshuffle on 17 December began last week.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien is one of the few ministers who has been told he will be remaining in position after the reshuffle on Saturday 17 December.
Next week, the Government will table a confidence motion in the Housing Minister, taking the place of a no confidence motion planned by PBP-Solidarity.
Mr Martin said he and the other two leaders of the coalition parties have a fair idea of what the general shape of the Cabinet will be after the upcoming reshuffle. Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that Fianna Fáil had not yet given any indication as to its preference for Cabinet positions.
Speaking this afternoon in Cork, Mr Martin told RTÉ News that broad discussions had already taken place on the process involved in the re-allocation of portfolios.
All three leaders, he said, had a fair idea of each other's thinking based on their original agreement and on the Programme for Government, which he described as "the glue that holds the three parties together".
Mr Martin was speaking as he officially opened a bypass of Macroom in Co Cork.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that Fianna Fáil had not yet given any indication as to its preference for Cabinet positions.
Mr Varadkar chuckled as he went on to say there has been no detailed discussion yet between the party leaders. However, he said he expected those talks to take place next week.
Asked about positions his party would like to hold onto, he said that was a discussion for himself, Mr Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan rather than in a public forum.
The Tánaiste made his comments at the launch of a new Enterprise Ireland Technology Centre based at University of Galway. Construct Innovate is an initiative to drive R&D into new construction technologies.
Mr Ryan had already indicated that the shape of Government departments will be examined.
There is likely to be a particular emphasis on which department will take responsibility for housing those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
This is currently overseen by the Department of Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
SIPO decision
Meanwhile, Mr Martin said the decision of the Standards in Public Office Commission not to hold an inquiry into Tánaiste Leo Varadkar's alleged breach, in relation to the disclosure of a confidential government document to a friend three years ago during Mr Varadkar's first term as Taoiseach, had been made in accordance with its protocols and rules and that is where the matter stands.
Mr Martin was responding to reports that Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy and Ombudsman Ger Deering dissented from the decision of the Standards in Public Office Commission to refuse a preliminary inquiry into the disclosure of the document.
Three other SIPO commissioners had voted not to hold an inquiry, a report in The Irish Times stated.
"SIPO doesn't act in terms of individual personalities," Mr Martin said.
"It's a body in its entirety and every member is equal to the next member, so it's not for me to comment on the individual positions adopted by individual members on this report."
Mr Varadkar said he had apologised three years ago for what he said was the "transmission of a document in a way that was inappropriate" by use of an informal channel.
He said there were no findings made against him and he was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Tánaiste was responding to a report in the Irish Times that two senior ethics officials had objected to the dismissal of an investigation into the incident by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
It concerned the disclosure of a confidential Government document to a GP friend of Mr Varadkar during his term as Taoiseach.
"Complaints were made against me to the Standards Commission. They looked at the complaints and their words and they decided that they were misconceived, lacked evidence, and were not within their remit," he said.
"That's why they decided not even to have a preliminary investigation. It is the case that was a majority decision and not a unanimous decision," Mr Varadkar said.
"That was known previously. It was a decision I respect it and had it gone the other way I would have respected that too. And I hope people will respect that decision too," he added.
Additional reporting Teresa Mannion
