Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

——the Minister of State at the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach, Deputy Treacy, will have special responsibility for European affairs; the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, will have special responsibility for health promotion and other matters; the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, will have special responsibility in the area of environmental protection; the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, will have special responsibility for labour affairs, including training; the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, will have special responsibility for food and horticulture; and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, whose appointment is effective from today, following the completion of the necessary formalities, will have special responsibility for overseas development and human rights. The assignments to the remaining Ministers of State are unchanged.

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