Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced the appointments as Minister of State.
Mr Varadkar said the appointments include representatives from both Fine Gael and Independents to reflect the fact that it is a partnership Government.
"Everyone in the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party will be expected to play a role in Government and rebuilding the party," he added.
"I'm looking forward to working with all my colleagues in the months and years ahead to bring about real improvements in people's lives," the Taoiseach said.
Minister of State appointments
- Helen McEntee has been appointed Minister for European Affairs.
Two Ministers of State have been appointed to support Paschal Donohoe in the departments of finance and public expenditure and reform. The two ministers will work across both departments to enhance the integration process:
- Patrick O'Donovan has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for public procurement, open government and eGovernment.
- Michael D'Arcy has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for financial services and insurance.
Five new ministers have been appointed. Aside from Michael D'Arcy, they include:
- Ciarán Cannon as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for the diaspora and international development.
- Jim Daly as Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for mental health and older people.
- Brendan Griffin as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for tourism and sport.
- John Paul Phelan as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government with special responsibility for local government and electoral reform.
The government junior minister family photo @rtenews pic.twitter.com/bnhwVX85Cc
— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) June 20, 2017
Other appointments, many including expanded briefs, include the following:
- Minister of State at the Department of Health Catherine Byrne has seen her responsibilities enhanced to include health promotion while retaining the National Drugs Strategy
- Pat Breen will have special responsibility for trade, employment, business, EU Digital Single Market and data protection serving across the Department of Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Employment and Social Protection, the Department of the Taoiseach, and the Department of Justice and Equality.
- Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Sean Kyne retains responsibility for natural resources and will take on community affairs, and digital development.
- John Halligan is Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills with special responsibility for training, skills, innovation.
- Andrew Doyle is re-appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for food, forestry and horticulture.
- Damien English is re-appointed Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government with special responsibility for housing and urban development.
- Kevin 'Boxer' Moran remains as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and flood relief.
- David Stanton retains his position as Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for equality, immigration and integration.
These are in addition to the four Ministers of State who will attend Cabinet meetings and whose appointments were made last week:
- Deputy Joe McHugh, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, and at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the islands
- Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Education & Skills with special responsibility for higher education.
· Deputy Paul Kehoe, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence with special responsibility for defence.
- Deputy Finian McGrath, Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice & Equality and the Department of Health with special responsibility for disability issues.
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Former Govt chief whip got allowance not entitled too - Howlin
Separately, Labour leader Brendan Howlin has claimed in the Dáil that the former Government chief whip Regina Doherty was in receipt of an illegal payment for 18 months.
Mr Howlin said the Chief Whip was paid an allowance that was only designed for party whips and not Government whips.
He said that while this may appear a technical point, it is significant and it stems from the increased numbers of so called Super Junior Ministers sitting at the Cabinet table.
Mr Howlin said this means that only two of the four current Ministers of State at Cabinet can now be paid the same rate as senior ministers.
Taoiseach Leo Vardakar said the Chief Whip is always paid an allowance but he would examine Mr Howlin's claims and recoup any illegal payments, if necessary.
He said that all Ministers of State sitting at Cabinet should get the same pay as senior ministers but if legislation was required to make this happen, it would not be a priority.
