Deputy Humphreys is new Minister for Arts

The Cavan-Monaghan constituency is to get its first serving Minister for the region in almost three years after Fine Gael Deputy Heather Humphreys was elevated from the back-benches to the position of Minister for Arts by Taoiseach Enda Kenny who announced his Cabinet re-shuffle in the Dáil.

There had been some media speculation as to the possibility that Deputy Humphreys, whose case was strengthened by the fact Frances Fitzgerald was the only Fine Gael woman in Cabinet, not to mention that there had been no female in the junior ministerial ranks since Lucinda Creighton left over her stance on abortion.

Her claim though was more than based on just gender balance, and Deputy Humphreys has been keeping a close and careful brief on a range of issues, from Transport to the reformation of the Rates System since she was first elected in 2011.

Deputies Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton and still Minister for Social Protection are understood to have met with colleagues earlier this morning to brief them on the details.

As expected, President Michael D Higgins has accepted resignations of Pat Rabbitee, Jimmy Deenihan, Phil Hogan and Ruairi Quinn.

Among the major moves are Simon Coveney who will now take over defence as well as agriculture, while Leo Varadkar is the new Minister for Health, with James Reilly moving to the Department of Children, while Paschal Donohoe takes over at Transport.

Jan O'Sullivan is the new Minister for Education, with Alex White, who challenged for the Labour party leadership recently appointed as the new Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Charlie Flanagan moves to Foreign Affairs, and Jimmy Deenihan will move to a junior ministry in the Department of the Taoiseach.

Phil Hogan is to be Ireland's next EU Commisioner, with Alan Kelly moving to Environment and Local Government.

Michael Noonan (Finance) and Brendan Howlin (Public Expenditure and Reform) will remain as they were, as will Richard Bruton as Minister for Jobs and the recently appointed Frances Fitzgerald in Justice.

Paul Kehoe of Fine Gael is the Government Chief Whip and junior defence minister and Ged Nash will take on the role at Business and Employment (super junior).

 

The new Cabinet in full:

Michael Noonan (FG) – Finance

Brendan Howlin (Labour) – Public Expenditure and Reform

Joan Burton (Labour) – Social Protection

Leo Varadkar (FG) - Health

Richard Bruton (FG) – Jobs

Simon Coveney (FG) – Agriculture (also takes on Defence)

Frances Fitzgerald (FG) – Justice

Paul Kehoe (FG) – Government Chief Whip/junior defence minister

James Reilly (FG) – Children

Jan O’Sullivan (Labour) – Education

Charlie Flanagan (FG) – Foreign Affairs

Paschal Donohoe (FG) – Transport

Heather Humphreys (FG) – Arts

Alex White (Labour) – Communications

Alan Kelly (Labour) – Environment and Local Government

Ged Nash (Labour) – Business and Employment (super junior)