Sean Haughey promoted to Minister of State

Sean Haughey was this afternoon promoted to Minister of State at the Department of Education.

He succeeds Síle De Valera, who stepped down from Ministerial Office last Friday.

The announcement was made by the Taoiseach in the Dáil shortly after 2.30 this afternoon.

Minister Haughey said he only found out about the promotion a short time before the official announcement

“I got a message to go and see the Taoiseach at two o'clock today in his office, which I did, and that's the first I heard that I'm getting the job,” he said

“Obviously I'm delighted with the news, it's a great honour to be a minister for state and I'm looking forward to the challenge.”