Government advisers:The Taoiseach is to reduce the number of his advisers from six to four as part of a back-room shake-up in his department, it is understood.
From today Government Press Secretary Mandy Johnston is to step down after five years to take up a position of adviser in the Taoiseach's office.
Current special adviser to Mr Ahern, Gerry Howlin, will replace Ms Johnston as press secretary for the next three months before leaving the Taoiseach's office after 10 years' service.
Mr Ahern's programme manager, Gerry Hickey, will remain in his position in the new administration. Ms Johnston will be concentrating on Northern Ireland and other areas. Brian Murphy and Pádraig Slyne will remain as advisers in Mr Ahern's office.
Former RTÉ journalist Úna Claffey also retires from her position as an adviser to the Taoiseach. Joe Lennon left Mr Ahern's office to work with the HSE last year and was not replaced.
Meanwhile, one of the Fianna Fáil's most senior advisers, Colin Hunt, who was involved in the negotiations surrounding the coalition talks between Fianna Fáil and the Greens is also leaving today.
Mr Hunt, who has been the special adviser on economic policy to Minister for Finance Brian Cowen since September 2006, served as the special adviser to Minister for Transport Martin Cullen since November 2004, following his arrival from Goodbody Stockbrokers.
Prior to joining the Department of Transport, Mr Hunt was research director and chief economist at Goodbody Stockbrokers.
It has also been announced that the Progressive Democrats' press officer, Mary Minihan, is stepping down from her position.
Ms Minihan joined the PDs in November 2005 and said she has decided to leave at the end of the electoral cycle. Before taking up a job with the PDs she worked as a journalist with The Irish Times and Newstalk and has written a book, Dáil Spats, a selection of the humorous and dramatic exchanges that have taken place during the Ahern administrations.