Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I wish to advise the House that the Presidential Commission, acting on my advice, has accepted the resignation of Deputy Cullen as a member of the Government. I wish to place on the record of the House my gratitude to Martin Cullen for the contribution he has made to the work of the Government and to public service. It is a matter of widely-expressed regret that his medical condition is such that he felt unable to continue to serve and I wish to renew my best wishes to him at this difficult time for him and his family. I also confirm that heretofore I have acknowledged the contribution of the former Minister, Deputy Willie O'Dea, when bringing notice of his resignation to the House on that occasion.

I move: "That Dáil Éireann approves the nomination by the Taoiseach of Deputy Pat Carey and Deputy Tony Killeen for appointment by the President to be Members of the Government."

In addition, I wish to advise the House that I intend to make the following proposed reassignments. I propose to assign responsibility for the Department of Education and Science to the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan, the Department of Social and Family Affairs to Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to Deputy Mary Hanafin, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to Deputy Pat Carey and the Department of Defence to Deputy Tony Killeen. Subject to the motion that I have put to the House being approved, Deputies Pat Carey and Tony Killeen will cease to be Ministers of State on their appointment as members of the Government. I propose to nominate to the Government Deputies Cuffe, White and Connick to be Ministers of State.

See this speech in context