The Taoiseach moved or replaced all but three Cabinet Ministers yesterday as he completed a major reshuffle designed to refresh the Government's image and improve its performance before the next General Election.
Three new Ministers have been appointed, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, has taken on the challenge of Health, while the State has its first ever woman as Minister for Agriculture, Ms Coughlan.
As Mr Ahern seeks to give the Government a new look after the electoral backlash experienced by Fianna Fáil in June, the Opposition parties dismissed the changes as cosmetic.
The new Cabinet was only finalised in a series of last minute meetings between the Taoiseach and potential appointees that continued into yesterday afternoon.
The outgoing Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, accepted the post of Minister for Social and Family Affairs yesterday, only after tense meetings with the Taoiseach, who at first told him he might be dropped from the Cabinet altogether.
Mr Brennan's effective demotion came after at least two meetings with the Taoiseach on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. He argued successfully that he should remain in Cabinet, but unsuccessfully that he should be given an economic portfolio.
It emerged last night that Ms Harney told Mr Ahern of her concern that moving Mr Brennan from Transport should not lead to a substantial change of Government policy in the area.
Eight existing Ministers have been moved to new jobs including, as expected, Mr Cowen to the Department of Finance. Mr Dermot Ahern has become Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Mr Brennan's Dublin South constituency colleague Mr Tom Kitt was appointed Chief Whip yesterday, although it had earlier been speculated that Kildare North TD, Mr Seán Power, would get the job. Mr Power becomes a Minister of State. Dr Jim McDaid, the only Minister of State who was dropped, expressed extreme disappointment yesterday.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, last night denied reports that he was disappointed he was not moved, as had been expected, to a more significant Department.
Two of the three new Cabinet Ministers have been allocated relatively major portfolios. Mr Roche becomes Minister for the Environment having impressed the Taoiseach as Minister of State responsible for European Affairs during Ireland's EU presidency. Ms Mary Hanafin, who has worked closely with Mr Ahern for the past two years as Chief Whip, becomes Minister for Education.
The third new Minister is Mr O'Dea, who becomes Minister for Defence.
The new Ministers replace Mr Charlie McCreevy who has become Ireland's next EU Commissioner, Mr Joe Walsh, who announced his retirement some time ago, and Mr Michael Smith, who was effectively dropped from Cabinet as expected.
The Taoiseach appointed five new Ministers of State. He dropped just one - Dr McDaid.
The election of Mr Liam Aylward to the European Parliament in June and the promotions of Mr Roche, Mr O'Dea and Mr Kitt allowed the Taoiseach to appoint the other four.
Mr Seán Power becomes a Minister of State, boosting the party's profile in Kildare North which will see a by-election in the new year to replace Mr McCreevy.
Mr Conor Lenihan is a surprise appointment as is Mr Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North Central). The promotions of Mr Tony Killeen (Clare) and Mr Brendan Smith (Cavan/Monaghan) had been widely predicted. Six other existing Ministers of State will change portfolios with six staying in their existing jobs.
New Cabinet: Ministers and portfolios
Taoiseach: Bertie Ahern
Tánaiste and Health: Mary Harney
Finance: Brian Cowen
Foreign Affairs: Dermot Ahern
Social, Community & Family Affairs: Seamus Brennan
Enterprise, Trade & Employment: Micheál Martin
Agriculture: Mary Coughlan
Justice: Michael McDowell
Education: Mary Hanafin
Arts, Sport & Tourism: John O'Donoghue
Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs: Eamon Ó Cuív
Defence: Willie O'Dea
Communications, Marine & Natural Resources: Noel Dempsey
Transport: Martin Cullen
Environment: Dick Roche
Chief Whip: Tom Kitt
Attorney General: Rory Brady