Taoiseach expected to name new Minister of State today

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is expected to announce a new Minister of State this afternoon to replace Síle de Valera.

Ms de Valera stepped down as Junior Minister at the Department of Education last Friday ahead of her planned retirement from politics next year.

Sean Haughey is favourite to be promoted to the ministerial ranks, but Mr Ahern is also believed to be considering Cork South-West TD Denis O'Donovan and Tipperary North TD Maire Hoctor.

There was uproar among Haughey supporters when the Taoiseach effectively snubbed the Dublin North Central TD in his last mini-reshuffle earlier this year.