Kenny reconfigures departments

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has announced the reconfiguration of a number of Government departments.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has announced the reconfiguration of a number of Government departments.

The departments of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and Community Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs have been broken up entirely and two new ministries have been created.

Responsibility for children has been removed from the Department of Health, while  the Department of Finance has been split into two component parts - Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.

Labour’s Brendan Howlin will take over at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, while Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald has been appointed Minister for Children.

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The responsibilities of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs have been redistributed, with Equality going into the Department of Justice.

Mr Kenny announced that trade will now be covered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where Labour leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will be minister.

Richard Bruton has been appointed minister at the rebranded Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The Department of Defence has been merged into the Department of Justice, with Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter appointed as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been renamed as the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food, where Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney will be minister.

Community will fall under the remit of Fine Gael's Phil Hogan, who will be the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.

Gaeltacht will be the responsibility of Jimmy Deenihan, who has been appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The Department of Transport has become the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, with Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar appointed to the portfolio.

Labour's Willie Penrose will sit at the Cabinet table but without a vote as 'super junior' Minister at the Department of Environment with responsibility for Housing and Planning.

Paul Kehoe will be Government Chief Whip and Minister for State at the Department of the Taoiseach.

Briefs such as Social Protection; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Education and Skills are unchanged.

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll is an Assistant News Editor with The Irish Times