[PaulM]

Originally Posted by breakingnews.ie

Marine Minister Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher was today appointed to succeed Ivor Callely in the Transport Department while Meath TD Mary Wallace has been surprisingly promoted as junior minister at the Department of Agriculture and Food, it was confirmed.

Ms Wallace will fill the vacancy created by the switch of Wexford TD John Browne to the Mr Gallagher’s previous post in Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

The new appointments caused surprise as it had been speculated that loyal Government backbencher, Dublin North Central TD Sean Haughey would receive a junior ministry.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made the announcements in a brief statement to the House before he replied to written Opposition questions.

He said: “I wish to formally announce for the information of the House that the Government has today appointed Deputy Mary Wallace to be Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food. Deputy Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher is to be Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Deputy John Browne is to be Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.”

The announcement was met with brief applause in the Dáil chamber.

Spot on.