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Cabinet Appointments Made

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced new appoints to his cabinet after the resignation of An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Frances Fitzgerald, amid inappropriate communications between her office and An Garda Siochana. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, has been appointed as An Tánaiste and remains in the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department. Heather Humphrey's moves from Culture to Business, Enterprise and Innovation, taking over the position vacated by Frances Fitzgerald, and Jossepha Madigan replaces Heather Huphrey's as Culture Minister.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has avoided a snap General Election following the resignation of Frances Fitzgerald following her resignation from her position as An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Both Fianna Fail's and Sinn Fein's motions of no confidence in the former Tánaiste were dropped following her resignation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Fine Geal Leader, Simon Coveney, is now An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Heather Humphreys moves from the Department of Culture, Heritage and An Gealtacht to Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Josepha Madigan has now been appointed as Minister for Culture, Heritage and An Gealtacht.

Speaking today, the Taoiseach said: “Appointing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney as Tánaiste will enhance his role in the Brexit negotiations currently underway and will make it easier for him to coordinate the work of other departments with respect of Brexit. In appointing Minister Humphreys to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, for the first time in seven years the minister will be from outside the Dublin region, and also from the Border. This is particularly relevant in the context of Brexit and also the Government’s commitment to bring more jobs and good jobs to all regions of Ireland, especially rural Ireland. Heather’s experience as a minister and also her background in banking and finance makes her very suited to this role. Minister Madigan will build on the work of Minister Humphreys in the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and will drive forward the Government’s agenda for arts, culture and heritage, including the Creative Ireland programme, an ambitious ten year capital plan for the arts and multi-annual increases in funding for culture and heritage.”