Taoiseach announces Cowen as new Tánaiste

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has announced Brian Cowen as the new Tánaiste and has said Mr Cowen will continue as the Finance minister.

In his Cabinet also is Brian Lenihan as Minister for Justice, Seamus Brennan as Minster for Arts, Sport and Tourism and Martin Cullen as Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

John Gormley of the Green Party is Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Eamon Ryan is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Therfe are no changes for Micheál Martin who stays as Minister for Trade and Enterprise and Mary Harney who keeps the Health portfolio.

The head of the new Department of Transport and Marine is Noel Dempsey while Dermot Ahern keeps the Department of Foreign Affairs position.

Eamonn O'Keeffe gets the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mary Coughlan gets the additional responsibility of Fisheries and Food to go with her Agriculture portfolio and Mary Hanafin keeps her Education post.

Willie O'Dea stays in the Department of Defence.

Bertie Ahern has announced his new Cabinet at the reconvening of the Dáil.