President Michael D Higgins has signed into law legislation which clears the way for three Ministers of State to be able to take up office from next Tuesday.
The three due to be promoted are Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley, Fine Gael's Colm Brophy and Independent TD Marian Harkin.
The legislation was required because the Government last month decided to increase the number of Ministers of State from 20 to a record 23.
A Government spokesperson said at the time that the increase was needed because of the extra responsibilities of government in light of new challenges, demographic changes and a growing population.
The move was criticised by opposition parties who claimed there were too many junior ministers and, of the 23 appointed, only six were women.
However the enabling legislation was passed through the Oireachtas and has now been signed by President Higgins.
Mr Dooley is due to become Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Fisheries and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for the Marine.
Mr Brophy will become Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for Migration.
Ms Harkin will become Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with special responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills.
The enabling legislation signed by the President was the "Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025".
