Five new Ministers of State named

The Taoiseach has sacked three junior ministers and promoted five backbenchers to the position of Minister of State.

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, Michael Ahern, and John Brown have all lost out in Brian Cowen’s reshuffle, while the Fianna Fáil TDs given new jobs this afternoon were John Maloney, Michael Finneran, Martin Mansergh, Peter Power and John Curran.

Mr. Maloney, who is Brian Cowen’s Loais-Offally constituency colleague, will take charge of Disability and Mental Health.

Dublin Mid West TD John Curran takes control of the National Drugs Strategy. Michael Finneran is the new Minister responsible for Housing, and Peter Power is the minister in charge of Overseas Development.

Martin Mansergh is the new Minister of State at the Department of Finance responsible for the Office of Public Works, and also Junior Minister for the Arts.