A champagne reception awaited the Cabinet at Áras an Uachtaráin last night after ministers received their seals of office from the President, Mrs McAleese.
The President handed out the seals, along with a hearty "congratulations" for each minister, whom she greeted by their first names as she gave them the seals.
Shortly before 8 p.m. the reshuffled and the newly appointed took their seats in the State room of the Áras, as the President, Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Tánaiste, Ms Harney, signed the warrants for the new Government appointments.
Mrs McAleese appeared to have some special words for friends who received promotions, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, and the new minister for Education, Ms Hanafin.
The four members of Government whose jobs were unaffected by the reshuffle, stood to the side of the room.
"The survivors" announced the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, as he posed for photos along with the Minister for Arts, Mr O'Donoghue, the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Mr O Cuív, and the Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady.
Everyone smiled a lot except Séamus Brennan.
After receiving their seals, the Government took their seats in the next room for their first Cabinet meeting, which lasted less than half an hour.
The drinks reception, hosted by Mrs McAleese, took place after the meeting.
Champagne bottles chilled in ice buckets in the drawing room of the Áras, while a fleet of 04-reg Mercedes cars waited outside.