The Minister for Health Mary Harney has rejected criticism that the Cabinet reshuffle was not radical enough and said new Taoiseach Brian Cowen had made "lots of significant changes".
Ms Harney said many ministers such as Dermot Ahern, Brian Lenihan and Micheál Martin had taken on new positions. Mary Coughlan's appointment was significant and she would be a "terrific" Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney said.
" Brian Lenihan has had a terrific rise in terms of his ministerial career to the ministry of finance which is such an important job at any time, but particularly at a time when there are challenges facing the economy," Ms Harney said.
She said she was "very happy" to continue in her role as health minister and enjoyed the challenge of health reform. "I want to see it through and I am very pleased to have the confidence of the Taoiseach in my reappointment and the support of the Taoiseach and the Government."
She was speaking after she addressed the 6th international cancer conference at Dublin Castle today.
Ms Harney told the conference that there was "no alternative" to the cancer control programme being led by Prof Tom Keane.
The threatened closure of cancer services in regions such as Sligo have been strongly opposed by patients. She said patient outcomes improved by 20 to 25 per cent when patients were treated in specialist centres.
These were "compelling facts that you can't ignore", she said.
