First Cabinet meeting held today

The first meeting of the Cabinet is to take place later this morning , when Bertie Ahern meets with his senior ministers at the Government’s guest house, Farmleigh, in the Phoenix Park.

The main item on the agenda is said to be the final report of the National Millennium Committee, although many are seeing this meeting as a ‘get to know you session’ for the new five mew ministers.

The conference is likely to be concluded before Ireland’s crunch match against Saudi Arabia this afternoon.