Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher has been appointed to replace Dublin North Central TD Ivor Callely as Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
Mr Callely was forced to step down in December after it emerged one of the largest building firms in the State arranged for the painting of his house in the early 1990s.
It had been widely expected that Sean Haughey - son of former taoiseach Charles Haughey - and Jim Glennon would received junior posts in a minor reshuffle announced by the Taoiseach in the Dáil this afternoon.
Mr Ahern also promoted Meath TD Mary Wallace from the backbenches to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture. She has previously held a junior ministry in the Department of Justice but was in charge when the Government was forced to drop its Disability Bill in 2002.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said Ms Wallace was appointed for electoral reasons and the two- month delay in making today's announcement reflects the Taoiseach's inability to make a decision.
Ms Wallace is a former minister of state who will be Fianna Fáil standard bearer in the new Meath East constituency at the next general election.
"I'm delighted. It's a very challenging time in the agriculture and food area and I am looking forward to working with senior minister Mary Coughlan and junior minister Brendan Smith," Ms Wallace said.
Wexford TD John Browne becomes Minister of State at the Department of the Communications, Marine & Natural Resources. He will have responsibility for fisheries.
He had previously been a junior minister with the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for forestry.
He replaces Mr Gallagher, who was under electoral pressure in Donegal because of the Government's determination to impose criminal penalties on fishermen who break fishery laws.
Fine Gael's marine spokesman John Perry was scornful about the decision to move Mr Gallagher away from a policy area where the Government's failure to implement EU directives could lead to Ireland being fined millions of euros.
"Despite his insistence within Donegal that he would fight hard for the fishing industry, [Mr Gallagher] has let down fishermen from not only his own constituency, but fishermen from throughout the country," Mr Perry said.