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.

The appointment may well bolster Mr O’Keefe’s chances of re-election after his power base was halved in the recent constituency boundary changes.

The other new juniors are Clare TD Tony Killeen who moves to Enterprise; Conor Lenihan from Dublin South West who takes up a position in Foreign Affairs; Brendan Smith from Cavan (Agriculture); and Kildare TD Seán Power, who moves to Health.

The former junior Minister in Foreign Affairs, Tom Kitt, takes over as Government chief whip, which gives him a place at the Cabinet table.

The other junior minister widely tipped for promotion, Brian Lenihan, remains as junior minister with responsibility for children.

Said to be deeply disappointed at not being promoted, Mr Lenihan remained tight-lipped yesterday when asked by reporters for his reaction.

Former Marine Minister Frank Fahey retains his junior minister role but moves to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to take over the equality brief.

Donegal TD and former MEP, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher, becomes the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, replacing John Browne. Meanwhile, Mr Browne has moved to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Dublin North Central TD Ivor Callelly moves from Health to Transport, to replace Dr McDaid.

In another significant move, Galway East TD Noel Treacy takes over Dick Roche’s old job as Minister for Europe.

The other junior ministers remain in their current portfolios. They include the two Progressive Democrat Ministers of State, Tom Parlon, who is in charge of the OPW, and Tim O’Malley, who has responsibility for the mental health services.