Taoiseach appoints two new Ministers to Cabinet

TWO NEW Ministers have been appointed to Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s new Cabinet, while all senior Ministers kept their seats, six staying in their old departments and eight reshuffled to new positions.

“Super junior” minister of state for children Brendan Smith, who held a seat at Cabinet, has been appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, while minister of state Batt O’Keeffe becomes the new Minister for Education.

The Taoiseach also named four Ministers of State, the remainder expected to be named next week. Minister of State Pat Carey moves to the Department of the Taoiseach as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Defence, replacing Tom Kitt, while Dún Laoghaire TD Barry Andrews has been appointed as Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs. Mr Cowen also reappointed Minister of State for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent and reinstated Wicklow TD Dick Roche as Minister of State for European Affairs.

He singled out Mr Roche for praise and said he had a “tremendous record of work in relation to furthering Ireland’s engagement with the EU. His enthusiasm and commitment will continue to serve us well in the immediate and vital task of promoting a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon reform treaty”.

In the new Cabinet, Mary Coughlan has been appointed Tánaiste as well as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, while Brian Lenihan moves to the Department of Finance, and the Justice portfolio is taken up by Dermot Ahern.

Micheál Martin moves to the Department of Foreign Affairs while Martin Cullen is the new Minister for Arts, Sport and Culture replacing Séamus Brennan who resigned on grounds of ill-health.

Mary Hanafin moves from the Department of Education to become the new Minister for Social and Family Affairs while Noel Dempsey remains Minister for Transport. Also staying with the same portfolios are Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and the three non-Fianna Fáil Coalition Cabinet Members, Minister for Health Mary Harney, Minister for the Environment John Gormley, and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.

Mr Cowen said he had “decided not to make any significant changes to the allocation of functions between departments at this time”.