Meet the new Cabinet team
Message from An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD
"The actions we have taken over the past 2 years have been focussed on stabilising the public finances and restoring international confidence in Ireland.
Now, we have to move on to the next stage of building a lasting recovery. I am determined to help people back into employment and driving job creation. I have chosen my new Cabinet team below, and have reformed the structures of Government, with exactly that in mind.
Find out more about the new team below:
Tánaiste and Minister for Education & Skills: Mary Coughlan TD
Mary Coughlan was appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment in May 2008. She has previously served as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Culture, the Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Responsibility for skills and training policy has been re-allocated to this Department. In addition to the work of the Expert Skills Group, responsibility will transfer for the training activities of FÁS. It will therefore be aligned more closely with the further education and training activities of the VECs, the Institutes of Technology and programmes such as Youthreach.
Minister for Finance: Brian Lenihan TD
First elected to the Dáil in April 1996, Brian Lenihan was appointed Minister for Finance in May 2008. He was previously Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and was Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (with special responsibilty for Children) from 2002 until 2007.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation: Batt O’Keeffe TD
Batt O’Keeffe was previously Minister for Education & Science and Minister of State with special responsibility for Housing, Urban renewal and Developing Areas at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
A renewed focus on supporting enterprise and driving innovation is at the core of the Government’s work. This focus will be sharpened within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which will be renamed the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, by transferring to it funding for the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. This will help to bring together a streamlined and focused programme of funding of research and development, aligned with the objectives of enterprise policy.
Minister for Social Protection: Éamon O Cuív TD
Éamon O Cuív was Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2002 until March 2010. He was previously a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, with special responsibility for Rural Development 2001-2002 and Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and Islands with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Irish language and island development.
Responsibility for the employment services and community services programme of FÁS is being transferred to the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which will become the Department of Social Protection. In due course, responsibility for the payment of redundancy and insolvency payments will also be transferred to this Department.
Minister for Justice & Law Reform: Dermot Ahern TD
Dermot Ahern was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1987. He has been re-elected in every subsequent General Election. He has been Minister for Justice since May 2008. His previous portfolios include: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Minister for Social, Community & Family Affairs.
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Micheál Martin TD
Micheál Martin was previously Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Minister for Health & Children and Minister for Education. He was first elected to Cork South Central in 1989 and has been elected at each subsequent election.
Minister for Transport: Noel Dempsey TD
Noel Dempsey was appointed Minister for Transport in May 2007 He has previously served as Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Minister for Education & Science 2002-2004, and Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Minister for Defence: Tony Killeen TD
Tony Killeen has previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Environment, and Minister for Labour. He has represented the constituency of Clare since 1992.
Minister for Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs: Pat Carey TD
Pat Carey has previously served as Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with special responsibility for the national drugs strategy. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1997.
Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport: Mary Hanafin TD
Mary Hanafin was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Dun Laoghaire in 1997. She has previously served as Minister for Children, Chief Whip, Minister for Education & Science, and Minister for Social & Family Affairs.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food: Brendan Smith TD
Brendan Smith was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in May 2008. Previously he had served as Minister for Children, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture. Brendan Smith has represented the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan since 1992.
Chief Whip: John Curran TD
First elected to the Dáil in 2002 for the constituency of Dublin Mid-West, John Curran was previously Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Drugs.
Other Ministries:
Minister for Health & Children: Mary Harney TD
Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government: John Gormley TD
Minister for Communications, Energy, & Natural Resources: Eamonn Ryan TD