The newly appointment Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs is defending his appointment following the cabinet reshuffle.

The Government has indicated that the top rate of tax (52%) is to be reduced from October's Budget onwards, with the saving aimed at benefiting low- and middle-income earners.

TDs have been told to make themselves available for votes in the Dáil tomorrow - meaning a Cabinet reshuffle is likely to be announced then.

It now looks like the eagerly anticipated Cabinet reshuffle may not be announced this afternoon, as had been widely expected.

A third day of talks between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on the renewal of the Government will get underway this morning.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn has signalled he will fight the axe in this year’s Cabinet reshuffle.

Rebel Fianna Fáil backbenchers will come face to face with the Taoiseach today for the first time since some of them started planning a heave against him.

New Government Chief Whip John Curran is insisting that Mary Hanafin still has an important job in cabinet.

Questions have been raised in the business community about the role of Minister Batt O'Keeffe in the revamped Deparment of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

There could be stormy scenes at today's Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting in the wake of yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle.

Former Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin insisted tonight that she was genuinely delighted with her shift to a rebranded Tourism, Culture and Sport portfolio as part of the Cabinet rejig.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said that today’s Cabinet reshuffle "will not change anything" for Irish households.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said today that the Taoiseach's Cabinet reshuffle "misses the point completely".

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has today moved from Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Education, pending the expected Dáil approval.

Tony Killeen and Pat Carey have been promoted to the Cabinet in today’s reshuffle, as was widely anticipated.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has been moved to the Ministry of Education from the Enterprise, Trade and Employment portfolio, pending Dáil approval.

The cabinet reshuffle set to be announced in the Dáil by Taoiseach Brian Cowen this afternoon will be more wide-ranging than had previously been thought, according to political sources.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is set to announce his reshuffled Cabinet this afternoon, along with a reworking of some government departments.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore says that Martin Cullen's resignation should lead to a Cabinet "shakeout" rather than a reshuffle.

Environment Minister John Gormley says he wants to keep his job.

The Green Party is tonight refusing to confirm or deny reports John Gormley could be heading to the backbenches in the Cabinet reshuffle.

The Taoiseach has fuelled speculation that he intends to create new Government ministeries as well as undertake a comprehensive reshuffle of his Cabinet.

They are barely in the job 24 hours, but the new Government Cabinet are already getting lobbied to deal with pressing global issues.

The former Minister for Transport reportedly threatened to resign from his seat in the Dáil if he was dropped from the Cabinet in the government reshuffle.

It was business as usual in the Dáil today as the new cabinet solemnly took their seats on the front bench.

Screen Producers Ireland has given a positive welcome to the cabinet reshuffle announced by the Taoiseach today.

The Irish Hotels Federation has welcomed the retention of John O'Donoghue as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism stating his work in this Department augers well for the industry for the remainder of his term.

Tánaiste Mary Harney has been welcomed to her new post by representatives of hospital consultants and pharmacists.

The opposition leaders have wasted no time today in in criticising Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's reshuffled cabinet.

The Taoiseach has new appointments to his reshuffled cabinet in the Dáil this afternoon, with three new cabinet members and the Tánaiste becoming Minister for Health.

Micheál Martin is today expected to take up the portfolio of Enterprise Trade and Employment in a direct swap with Tánaiste Mary Harney, according to the Evening Echo.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today announce his long-awaited cabinet reshuffle - the first step in a tough battle to win back the electorate.