Heather Humphries Is Minister for the Arts. Shane Ross Also In Cabinet.

The new cabinet has been announced by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. There will be some relief that the Minister for the Arts, Heather Humphries, has retained that role. However, the Arts and Culture element has arguably been downgraded by the addition of Regional Development and Rural Affairs to the brief of what is now a somewhat sprawling ministerial portfolio.

Others to retain their Ministries include the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald; Minister for Finance Michael Noonan; and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan.

Among the new faces at the cabinet table are four independents. Katherine Zappone has been given responsibility for Children; former Fine Gael-er Denis Naughton replaces Alex White as Minister for Communications; Shane Ross has been appointed Minister for Transport; and Dublin independent TD, Finian McGrath, has been appointed as Super Junior Minister. He will attend Cabinet meetings and have special responsibility for disability.

Other interesting appointments include that of the Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who is the new Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation – a crucial role, given the importance of maintaining job creation. She replaces Richard Bruton, who – in what might be seen as a demotion of sorts – has been appointed Minister for Education and Skills.

Leo Varadker is also on the move, shifting from the poisoned chalice of Health to Social Protection. Meanwhile, Pascal Donoghue is the new Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, replacing Brendan Howling of the Labour Party; and Simon Harris takes on the burden of Health. The full cabinet is as follows:

Justice - Frances Fitzgerald
Finance - Michael Noonan
Public Expenditure and Reform - Paschal Donohoe
Social Protection - Leo Varadkar
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation- Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Agriculture - Michael Creed
Health - Simon Harris
Foreign Affairs - Charlie Flanagan
Education & Skills - Richard Bruton
Children - Katherine Zappone
Housing - Simon Coveney
Communications - Denis Naughten
Transport - Shane Ross
Regional Development, Rural Affairs and Arts and Culture - Heather Humphreys
Defence - The Taoiseach, with Paul Kehoe as Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Defence

Finian McGrath has been appointed as Super Junior Minister. He will attend Cabinet meetings and have special responsibility for disability.