The Taoiseach announced in the Dáil yesterday the assignment of the following special responsibilities to the Ministers of State:
Mr Frank Fahey - Equality issues;
Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher - Marine;
Mr John Browne - Forestry;
Mr Ivor Callely - certain Traffic Management issues in Dublin and the major cities, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority;
Mr Noel Treacy - European Affairs;
Mr Sean Power - Health Promotion and other matters;
Mr Batt O'Keeffe - Environmental Protection;
Mr Tony Killeen - Labour Affairs, including training;
Mr Brendan Smith - Food and Horticulture;
Mr Conor Lenihan - Overseas Development and Human Rights (in his statement the Taoiseach said that Mr Lenihan's appointment "is effective from today following the completion of the necessary formalities").
The positions of the five remaining Ministers of State remain unchanged:
Mr Brian Lenihan - responsibility for children across the Departments of Health, Justice and Education;
Ms Síle de Valera - Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage;
Mr Michael Ahern - Trade and Commerce;
Mr Tom Parlon - Office of Public Works;
Mr Tim O'Malley - Disability and Mental Health Services and Food Safety.