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06 Sept 2025

Ministerial musical chairs: Who are the new Government Ministers

There has been a big shake up in the Cabinet, with the likes of Simon Harris, Helen McEntee and Norma Foley making moves.

Ministerial musical chairs: Who are the new Government Ministers

Ministerial musical chairs: Who are the new Government Ministers

With Mícheál Martin officially nominated as Taoiseach on Thursday evening, the government has now begun naming its new ministers. 

There have been a lot of changes in this government’s ministerial roles, with swaps, rejigs and a few new faces.

So who’s who in the Cabinet?

Former Taoiseach Simon Harris will now be the Tánaiste and Minister for the newly named department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as Minister for Defence - essentially swapping roles with Mícheál Martin.

Paschal Donohoe has been named as the new Minister for Finance, replacing Jack Chambers who was the youngest ever Finance Minister in the country. Chambers will now be the new Minister for Public Expenditure.

READ NEXT: Newly nominated Taoiseach Mícheál Martin vows to 'reject the sterile politics of the extremes'

Fianna Fáil TD and barrister Jim O'Callaghan has been named as the new Minister for Justice, replacing Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee who will now be assigned as the Minister for Education and Youth.

With McEntee taking over this role, Norma Foley will be the new Minister for Children and Disability.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will now be the Minister of Health following on from Stephen Donnelly. Fellow Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon will be the new Minister for Agriculture.

Mary Butler, Fianna Fáil TD for Waterford, has been appointed as Government Chief Whip as well as given the responsibility of mental health.

The Fianna Fáil TD from Wexford, James Browne will be the new Minister for Housing, taking over from Darragh O’Brien who will now be the Minister for Transport, Environment and Energy..

Peter Burke will remain in his role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Fine Gael TD Patrick O'Donovan is the new Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, following on from his previous role as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland. Fianna Fáil's James Lawless will instead be the new Minister for Higher Education.

Addressing the Dáil on Thursday evening, the newly elected Taoiseach said he is aware of the multitude of issues facing Ireland today. He said that it will take a "whole of government approach taking key issues out of departmental silos and delivering action on multiple fronts at once."

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