Paschal Donohoe's sudden departure for the rarified heights of the World Bank has triggered significant changes in the Cabinet.
Mr Donohoe had substantial heft within both Fine Gael and the Coalition, and that influence was underlined by being a three-time President of the Eurogroup of EU finance ministers.
However, the Dublin Central TD is now off to Washington DC.
Maybe Mr Donohoe's stature within Government circles was a factor in the Tánaiste's thinking when he decided to appoint himself to the finance brief.
It is arguably the most important job at Cabinet, after that of the Taoiseach, and there is no time for anyone to read themselves into that role.
Simon Harris has worked closely with Mr Donohoe since April of last year, when he became leader of Fine Gael.
The Tánaiste can also draw on some experience as a minister of state in the department back in 2014, and has been a senior minister in the Cabinet since 2016.
Mr Harris will now have the opportunity to frame fiscal policy, but the expectation at least is that it is unlikely to signal a dramatic change.
Notably, the position of Minister for Finance is usually associated with politicians who rarely hold news conferences.
Watch: Taoiseach announces cabinet reshuffle following Donohoe resignation
So it will be interesting to watch how Mr Harris deals with the media, given that he also holds the position of Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste.
His departure to finance means a vacancy at Iveagh House.
The Tánaiste told the Dáil that he was delighted to appoint Helen McEntee as Ireland's first female Minister for Foreign Affairs and the first female Minister for Defence.
That piece of history has been welcomed by Opposition leaders like Holly Cairns, but Ms McEntee is walking straight into controversy.
Waiting in her in-tray are the Occupied Territories Bill, proposed changes to the Triple Lock and reform and upgrading of the Defence Forces.
Ms McEntee is the deputy leader of Fine Gael, has been in Cabinet for five years, and has experienced how tough politics can be when minister for justice.
It is not going to get any easier.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton is to be promoted to Ms McEntee's former role as Minister for Education and Youth.
In turn, Ms Naughton's "super junior" position at Cabinet is to be taken by Minister of State Emer Higgins.
When announcing his decisions to the Dáil, Mr Harris said that while the changes might come as a source of intrigue, they do not signal a moment of interruption.
"There will be no pause in the momentum. We must demonstrate that in the business of Government, there is always more to do," he declared.
That seems like a high bar. New posts inevitably mean people have to feel their way into the role.
Opposition parties opted to give Mr Donohoe a kick on his way out the door.
While they wished him the best on a personal level, they also slated his record in Government, citing the housing crisis and the cost-of-living crisis in particular.
Tomorrow, they will turn their turrets on Mr Harris, Ms McEntee, Ms Naughton, and Ms Higgins.
