Cowen Takes Charge

Several Changes In New Taoiseach's Cabinet

Brian Cowen was elected as the leader of Fianna Fáil and then as the new Taoiseach after Bertie Ahern's resignation.

His first task in office was to appoint Mary Coughlan as Tánaiste and Brian Lenihan as Finance Minister in his new Cabinet announced in the Dáil on Wednesday evening.

Tánaiste Coughlan will also take the role of Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, replacing Micheál Martin who moves to take charge of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The former Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern, has been moved to the Justice Ministry, replacing Mr Lenihan there.

The are several new faces in the Cabinet including Batt O'Keeffe, who takes the Education portfolio and Brendan Smith who has been appointed as Minister for Agriculture.

Pat Carey replaces Tom Kitt as Chief Whip, and Mary Hanafin moves to Social and Family Affairs, a position previously held by Martin Cullen, who has been moved to Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Noel Dempsey keeps his job in the Department of Transport, and the Progressive Democrat's Mary Harney keeps her position as Health Minister.

Eamon O'Cuiv stays at Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs while Green Party partners John Gormley and Eamon Ryan retain their Environment and Communications portfolios.

Willie O'Dea stays in charge of the Defence Ministry.

The Taoiseach has also nominated a number of junior ministers, including Pat Carey for Minister for State at the Department of Defence, Barry Andrews for Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dick Roche as Minister for European Affairs, and Trevor Sargent as the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The Taoiseach and his new Cabinet arrived at Áras an Uachtaráin to present the themselves to President Mary McAleese, and they received their seals of office before holding their first Cabinet meeting.

Announcing his Cabinet, Mr Cowen noted that they were taking up their posts at a time of considerable global uncertainty.

"This applies to international economic conditions, reflecting the impact of turbulence in financial markets, inflationary pressures associated with the market for commodities especially oil and food, and the economic consequences of significant realignment in the geo-political order."

"We also face the more strategic challenges of climate change and the appropriate response to be made across all sectors of our economy both domestically and internationally," he concluded.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny expressed his congratulations to the new Cabinet and wished them well, while also warning them that they, "come into this House with your new seals of office, at a time when the Fianna Fáil slogan 'A lot done - a lot more to do' has become a sick reminder of riches squandered and hopes dashed.

"By assigning blame for our economic woes on foreign factors alone, Mr Cowen and his new Government encourage a dangerously complacent attitude 'stay the course, wait for the storm to pass, and we'll be alright'," he said.