Wicklow Fine Gael TD Simon Harris has been appointed Minister of State in the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by Taoiseach Enda Kenny today, as part of the junior ministerial reshuffle.

The junior finance job is the most prestigious in the second rung of ministers, and was previously held by Brian Hayes, who is now an MEP for Dublin.

Mr Harris ran unsuccessfully in Ireland South for Fine Gael in the recent European elections, stepping in at the last minute to fill the the third slot on the party ticket after former IFA president John Bryan decided not to run.

Another big winner is Fine Gael Cork North-Central TD Dara Murphy, who is now Minister of State for European Affairs, while Waterford TD Paudie Coffey is Minister of State in the Department of Environment.

Fergus O’Dowd and Ciarán Cannon have both been sacked from their positions.

On the Labour side, Dublin Bay North TD Aodhán O'Riordáin has been promoted and gets a job in the Department of Justice.

Dublin South East TD Kevin Humphreys has also been promoted to the newly created junior post in Joan Burton's Department of Social Protection.

Carlow-Kilkenny's Ann Phelan is expected to be a minister for rural affairs, with Sean Sherlock moving to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Kathleen Lynch will stay in the Department of Health, while Dublin Central TD Joe Costello has been dropped.