Wallace among junior ministers to resign

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for Health Promotion and Food Safety, Mary Wallace, last week launched a report of the 'intersectoral group reflecting the progress and developments made in the implementation of the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Obesity since its publication in 2005". The rather long-winded titled publication was the Ratoath deputy"s last major action as junior health minister before her resignation yesterday (Tuesday), along with the 19 other junior ministers, as requested by Taoiseach Brian Cowen a couple of weeks ago. He is naming a new streamlined junior cabinet today (Tuesday), which Ms Wallace will be hoping to make it back to. However, the new cabinet will only have 15 members, and it is unclear as to how many of the present junior ministers are being considered, or whether Mr Cowen intends to introduce new blood from the backbenches.