Little change at junior ministries

THE somewhat expected root-and-branch changes among the ranks of junior ministers did not materialise yesterday, as only one Minister of State, Jim McDaid, was sacked by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

With three junior ministers appointed to senior ministries, and with a further vacancy created by Liam Aylward’s election to Europe, five new junior ministers were appointed.

They include Cork South Central deputy Batt O’Keeffe, who moves into the Department of Environment.