The Taoiseach has announced to the Dáil the responsibilities he has allocated to the 17 Ministers of State in his reshuffled Cabinet.
Responsibility for equality, including disability issues, has been allocated to the new Minister of State in the Department of Justice, Mr Frank Fahey.
Mr Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher will have special responsibility for the marine, while the new Minister of State for Transport, Mr Ivor Callelly, will have responsibility for road management issues in Dublin and the major cities, road haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The new Minister of State for Health, Mr Sean Power, has responsibility for services for health promotion and older people, while new junior foreign affairs minister Mr Conor Lenihan replaces new Chief Whip Mr Tom Kitt in taking responsibility for overseas development and human rights.
Other new junior ministers include Mr Tony Killeen, who will have responsibility for labour affairs, and Mr Brendan Smith, who will take charge of food and horticulture at the Department of Agriculture.
Mr John Browne will be responsible for forestry; Minister of State Noel Treacy will be in charge of European affairs and Mr Batt O'Keeffe will be responsible for environmental protection at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Mr Ahern said assignments to the remaining seven Ministers of State will remain as they are.
