Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish to formally announce for the information of the Dáil that this morning I accepted the resignations of all outgoing Ministers of State. I thank them all for their work in respect of their various responsibilities and for their commitment and support.

I also wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that following my acceptance of the resignations, the Government today, on my nomination, appointed the following to be Ministers of State: Deputy Carey to be Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip; Deputy Barry Andrews to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for children and young people; Deputy Roche to be Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European affairs; Deputy Sargent to be Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Health and Children with special responsibility for food, horticulture and food safety; Deputy Killeen to be Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for forestry, fisheries and the marine; Deputy Conor Lenihan to be Minister of State at the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education and Science and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for science, technology, innovation, the information society and natural resources; Deputy Haughey to be Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science with special responsibility for lifelong learning and school transport; Deputy Kelleher to be Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for trade and commerce; Deputy Moloney to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for equality, disability issues and mental health; Deputy Finneran to be Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for housing and local services; Deputy Curran to be Minister of State at the Departments of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for integration and community affairs; Deputy Peter Power to be Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for overseas development; Deputy Mansergh to be Minister of State at the Departments of Finance, including special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, and Arts, Sport and Tourism with special responsibility for the arts; Deputy Áine Brady to be Minister of State at the Departments of Health and Children, Social and Family Affairs and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for older people and health promotion; and Deputy Calleary to be Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for labour affairs.

An announcement in respect of these appointments was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this afternoon.

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