Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Niall Carson/PA Archive

Taoiseach thanks former ministers for service 'during difficult times'

Announcing his new Cabinet today, Enda Kenny thanked outgoing ministers for their service to the Irish people.

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY commended the careers of the ministers who are leaving the cabinet and spoke of his enthusiasm for working with those who have been nominated for new portfolio positions.

Outlining the Cabinet reshuffle in the Dáil this afternoon, Kenny “deeply thanked” former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore for his “outstanding” service to the Irish people:

As Minister for Foreign Affairs, he has been central to restoring Ireland’s international reputation.

Kenny said that Pat Rabbitte, former Communications Minister, has seen “Ireland move up the international league tables for high-speed connectivity”.

The Taoiseach commended former Education Minister Ruairí Quinn’s “passion for reform”, and said his years of public service are “an outstanding example of a career in ministerial government”. He also credited Quinn with “transforming FÁS” as a body which will help get young Irish people back to work.

“He will be missed,” he added.

Ex-Environment Minister Phil Hogan “introduced some of the biggest reforms of government during his tenure”, Kenny said, including local government reform, new building regulations, water service, dealing with ground water pollution.

The Taoiseach said that Hogan’s experience in working on these difficult issues “will stand to him” in his new role as Ireland’s EU Commissioner.

Kenny said former Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan made “major progress to the inherited and long-ignored issue of the environment” such as climate change and Irish boglands in his role as a minister.

Of Deenihan’s new appointment as a junior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for the Irish diaspora, the Taoiseach said:

I look forward to working closely with him in his new role of connecting with the Irish Diaspora all over the world.

Speaking after the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Joan Burton  said that Eamon Gilmore, Ruairí Quinn and Pat Rabbitte had made significant contributions to both the government’s work and to public life.

The three politicians fought for “progressive change in the best interests of our people”, she said, and believes they will continue to do so.

LIVE: Leo Varadkar is the new Health Minister, Pat Rabbitte dropped from Cabinet > 

More: Rabbitte: If you’re deemed too old to serve in Cabinet, you look at things differently >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev Barnes
    Favourite Kev Barnes
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:53 AM

    Hot DRY week with rain……some weather forecast that

    162
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:26 AM

    Riding sat and sun morning in the north west

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Dilkington
    Favourite Karl Dilkington
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:30 AM

    @ed w: fair play to ya

    238
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweed Cap
    Favourite Tweed Cap
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:32 AM

    @ed w:
    Hope it stays nice and moist for ya. Them dry rides are no fun.

    273
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
    Favourite ⚡ Seánie ⚡
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:36 AM

    @ed w: there’s a man living for the weekend.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronny
    Favourite Ronny
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:37 AM

    @ed w: too much information kid

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:39 AM

    @ed w: I’ll do the evenings for ya if needed

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Me_a_monkey
    Favourite Me_a_monkey
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @ed w: make sure u bag it up!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Conway
    Favourite Sean Conway
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Tweed Cap: Put some icecubes in your condom to keep the swelling down.

    11
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @Karl Dilkington: hope you got a good laugh meant raining of course

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy McNamara
    Favourite Billy McNamara
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 11:47 AM

    @ed w: I did.But I wonder !!!!.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kem Trayle
    Favourite Kem Trayle
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 10:55 AM

    It better rain soon or we’ll have to change our name to The Beige Isle.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Beinead
    Favourite Sean Beinead
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 11:32 AM

    I wouldnt mind a mix of a few showers with the sunny weather ,me poor roses are suffering and me grass seed aint digging in deep quite yet , im sick of watering the garden every evening aswell.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
    Favourite Gisbert Bayertz
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:32 PM

    @Sean Beinead: I don’t have anymore grass…..just a brownish something covering part of my back garden

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
    Favourite Gisbert Bayertz
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:31 PM

    Journal: have you checked Met Eireann? Just asking…..

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Theodora Lament
    Favourite Theodora Lament
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:46 PM

    Chucking it down in the Wessht

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds