From People in Power

Brian Cowen survived a challenge to his leadership of Fianna Fail (FF) on 18 January 2011, but the minister of foreign affairs (who had led the challenge) and the Progressive Democrat minister for health resigned the following day, and four more FF ministers also resigned on 20 January. Cowen attempted to bring fresh FF ministers into the cabinet on 20 January, but the Greens forced him to call an early election for 11 March; the vacant portfolios were reassigned to incumbent FF ministers. Cowen stepped down as FF leader on 22 January, and on 24 January the Greens withdrew from the coalition. Their portfolios were also reassigned.

* = change to portfolio

Cabinet

HE Mr Brian COWEN TD (FF) * — Taoiseach (Prime Minister); Foreign Affairs

Ms Mary COUGHLAN TD (f) (FF) * — Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister); Education and Skills; Health and Children

Mr Brian LENIHAN TD (FF) — Minister of Finance

Mr Pat CAREY TD (FF) * — Minister of the Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs; Transport; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Ms Mary HANAFIN TD (f) (FF) * — Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

Mr Éamon Ó CUÍV TD (FF) * — Minister of Social Protection; Defence; Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Mr Brendan SMITH TD (FF) * — Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Justice and Law Reform

Ministers of State

Mr John CURRAN TD (FF) — Government Chief Whip; Information Society (Departments of the Taoiseach; and Defence)

Mr Barry ANDREWS TD (FF) — Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs (Departments of Health and Children; Education and Skills; and Justice and Law Reform)

Mr Dick ROCHE TD (FF) — Minister of State for European Affairs (Departments of the Taoiseach; and Foreign Affairs)

(vacant) * — Minister of State for Horticulture, Sustainable Travel and Planning, and Heritage (Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Transport; and Environment, Heritage and Local Government)

Mr Sean CONNICK TD (FF) — Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

(vacant) * — Minister of State for Equality, Human Rights and Integration (Departments of Justice and Law Reform; Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs; and Education and Skills)

Mr Seán HAUGHEY TD (FF) — Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and School Transport (Departments of Education and Skills; and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation)

Mr Dara CALLEARY TD (FF) — Minister of State for Public Service Transformation and Labour Affairs (Departments of the Taoiseach; Finance; and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation)

Mr Billy KELLEHER TD (FF) — Minister of State for Trade and Commerce (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation)

Mr Conor LENIHAN TD (FF) — Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources (Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation; Education and Skills; and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)

Mrs Aine BRADY TD (f) (FF) — Minister of State for Older People and Health Promotion (Departments of Health and Children; Social Protection; and Environment, Heritage and Local Government)

Mr John MOLONEY TD (FF) — Minister of State for Disability Issues and Mental Health (Departments of Health and Children; Education and Skills; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation; and Justice and Law Reform)

Mr Michael FINNERAN TD (FF) — Minister of State for Housing and Local Services (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government)

Mr Peter POWER TD (FF) — Minister of State for Overseas Development (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Mr Martin MANSERGH TD (FF) — Minister of State for Public Works (Department of Finance); Arts (Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport)

For the latest information and worldwide government listings, go to People in Power