Regina Doherty gets Taoiseach Leo's old job in cabinet shake-up

New Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has appointed Regina Doherty to his former position as Minister for Employment and Social Protection.

Announcing his new cabinet in the Dail this evening Leo Varadkar said of the Ratoath TD, 'Regina Doherty will take up my old position as Minister for Employment and Social Protection which in line with other countries will gain labour affairs and labour law responsibilities of the former Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation thus becoming the Department of Employment and Social Protection.
'Her key responsibilities will be to ensure that her budget packages are progressive and reduce inequality. Advancing social insurance reforms are now well underway, a new deal for the self employed and providing access to an occuaptional pension for all employees.

The portfolio represents a serious challenge for the former Chieff Whip is what is a historically high-spending area come budget time.

In what was a fairly minimal cabinet shake-up the fate of junior ministers Damien English as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal Helen McEntee as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People remains to be seen with junior ministries not due to be confirmed until next week.

 

Responding to a question on Twitter if there would be a position for the Meath East TD in ministerial ranks, Helen McEntee said 'Who knows?'