Ministers of State as announced by An Taoiseach in Dáil Eireann

I wish to announce for the information of the House that the Government has today assigned special responsibilities to Ministers of State as follows:

(a) Minister of State Fahey to have special responsibility for Equality Issues;

(b) Minister of State Gallagher to have special responsibility for the Marine;

(d) Minister of State Callely to have special responsibility for certain Traffic Management issues in Dublin and the major cities, Road Haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority;

(e) Minister of State Treacy to have special responsibility for European Affairs;

(f) Minister of State Power to have special responsibility for Health Promotion and other matters;

(g) Minister of State O'Keeffe to have special responsibility in the area of Environmental Protection;

(h) Minister of State Killeen to have special responsibility for Labour Affairs including Training;

(i) Minister of State Smith to have specialresponsibility for Food and Horticulture; and

(j) Minister of State Lenihan, whose appointment is effective from today, following the completion of the necessary formalities, to have special responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights.

Assignments to the remaining Ministers of State are unchanged.