Mr Tony Blair has augmented Dr John Reid's direct rule team with the appointment of two junior government whips as ministers at the Northern Ireland Office.
Ms Angela Smith was one of the army of new Labour MPs swept into Westminster on the back of Mr Blair's first landslide general election victory in 1997.
The Basildon MP was appointed an assistant government whip last year, having earlier served as parliamentary private secretary to Mr Paul Boateng, then minister of state at the Home Office.
Before entering parliament she was head of political and public relations for the League Against Cruel Sports and lists animal welfare as one of her areas of special interest, along with home affairs and employment rights and protection.
Ms Smith (43), enjoys watching Coronation Street, and reading political biographies and th works of Oscar Wilde.
Mr Ian Pearson (43), entered Westminster by winning the Dudley West by-election in 1994, marking Mr Blair's first election win as Labour leader with a record post-war swing of 29 per cent.
Also a government whip, he has been a member of the treasury, deregulation, and education and employment select committees.
Among his special interests he lists economic and industrial policy and regional economic development.
Married with two daughters and a son, he enjoys literature, playing rugby and ecclesiastical architecture.