The Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday that his new Cabinet was a "team with an unparalleled range of experience and wealth of abilities".
Announcing the names of the new Ministers and their portfolios, he said he was making key changes in the allocation of responsibilities among government departments, "the better to focus resources on achieving the key strategic results to which this Government is committed".
Mr Ahern said that in reviewing the responsibilities of departments he was acutely conscious of the ever-increasing pace of change in the needs and priorities in the modern economy.
"This is reflected more and more in how the division of responsibilities is shaped and reshaped among departments, the better to focus resources on achieving the key strategic results. As a result of this reallocation of functions, a number of departments will have new titles to reflect the grouping of functions."
The Department of Transport, assigned to Mr Séamus Brennan, would have responsibility for roads, other than local roads, traffic, rail and bus, aviation and road safety.
"The building of a modern, quality transport network will best be achieved by bringing together the relevant functions under a single department dedicated to resolving those issues."
Mr Ahern said the Department of the Environment, assigned to Mr Martin Cullen, would have responsibility for nuclear safety issues, including policy on Sellafield and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the Meteorological Office.
Responsibility for heritage policy and Dúchas would be transferred to the department, while responsibility for the management and other operational aspects of built heritage would be exercised by the Office of Public Works.
The Department of Communications and Natural Resources, assigned to Mr Dermot Ahern, would cover telecommunications, broadcasting, energy, marine and natural resources, as well as having responsibility for the Geological Survey of Ireland.
Mr Ahern added that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, for which Mr Éamon Ó Cuív would have responsibility, was being set up to allow for a more co-ordinated engagement by the State with communities, especially in the west.
It would be given responsibility for community and local development, including drugs, volunteering and the CAIT initiative, and rural development, including LEADER, CLAR and western development. Mr Ahern said the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs would become the Department of Social and Family Affairs, with Ms Mary Coughlan in charge.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development would become the Department of Agriculture and Food, with Mr Joe Walsh remaining as Minister.
Mr Ahern said some key areas of national life were not easily designated as economic or social, but they had dimensions of both. To reflect those important areas in a more appropriate way, a Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism would take responsibility for Government commitments in those areas. Mr John O'Donoghue would be the Minister in charge.
The Taoiseach also announced the appointment of Ms Mary Harney as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Mr Michael McDowell to Justice; Mr Charlie McCreevy to Finance; Mr Brian Cowen to Foreign Affairs; Mr Noel Dempsey to Education and Science; Mr Michael Smith to Defence; Mr Micheál Martin remains as Minister for Health and Children.
Mr Ahern appointed Ms Mary Hanafin as Government Chief Whip. She would also have responsibility for the information society, harnessing all the benefits of the new information and communications technologies.
Mr Dick Roche was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European affairs.
