09/03/2011 - 17:38:44
Ireland’s new Taoiseach Enda Kenny has unveiled his new Cabinet with a shake-up of some Government departments.
Mr Kenny revealed the new ministers to the Dáil after receiving his seal of office from President Mary McAleese.
Mr Kenny said today marked a new beginning.
Our task however is more than the rebuilding of an economy or the rescue of a reputation. Our task is to create a new context of confidence and drive,” Mr Kenny said.
“To free up our entrepreneurs to create the next wave of great Irish businesses.”
Fine Gael receives 10 senior ministries and coalition partners. Labour get five, as well as the Attorney General’s post.
As expected, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore becomes Tánaiste and takes on the new Foreign Affairs and Trade brief.
Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan has been named the new Finance Minister.
Labour’s Brendan Howlin has been handed the new public expenditure and reform portfolio, a second Department of Finance ministry outlined in the new Programme for Government.
Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton is becoming Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Minister.
Mr Gilmore said Fine Gael and Labour have come together to form a national Government.
“The national government is determined to break from the failed economic policies of the past – the ’blank cheque’ banking policy that brought our country to the edge of ruin, and the failure to take action to create growth and employment,” Mr Gilmore said.
The new Cabinet will later travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive their seals of office from President McAleese.
They will then hold their first meeting, where the exodus of ministers to St Patrick’s Day festivals across the world is expected to be discussed.
Washington DC, New York and London are among the cities expected to be visited by Cabinet members as they promote Ireland overseas as a trade and business hub.
Mr Kenny said the Dáil will adjourn tonight until next Tuesday.
The full Cabinet is as follows:
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael) - Taoiseach
Eamon Glimore (Labour) – Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Michael Noonan (Fine Gael) – Minister for Finance
Ruairi Quinn (Labour) – Minister for Education and SkillsBrendan Howlin – Minister for Pubic Expenditure and Reform
Richard Bruton (Fine Gael) - Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation
Joan Burton (Labour) - Minister for Social Protection
Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael) - Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Pat Rabbitte (Labour) - Minister for Communication Energy and Natural Resources
Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael) - Minister for Children
Simon Coveney (Fine Gael) - Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food
Alan Shatter (Fine Gael) - Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence
Phil Hogan (Fine Gael) - Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government
Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael) – Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
James O’Reilly (Fine Gael) – Minister for Health
Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael) – Government Chief Whip
Marie Whelan – Attorney General
One other so-called “super-junior” position has also been created, with Minister for Housing and Planning Willie Penrose, of Labour, asked to attend Cabinet meetings.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.