Harris takes over finance & McEntee is new foreign minister

TANAISTE Simon Harris has taken the job of Finance Minister after the surprise resignation of Fine Gael stalwart Paschal Donohoe.

- BY CILLIAN SHERLOCK

Helen McEntee’s promotion to Foreign Minister will see her become the first woman to hold the portfolio.

In a reshuffle forced upon the beleaguered coalition after Mr Donohoe landed a new top job at the World Bank, Hildegarde Naughton takes Ms McEntee's old role at Education.

Mr Donohoe said he was “departing public life” to take up the role at the Washington DC-based institution from Monday.

He will also vacate his Dail seat TD for Dublin Central, sparking a by-election.

In a speech at Government Buildings yesterday, Mr Donohoe said: “My election to the Dail and the opportunity to serve in the Government have been the greatest of honours, for which I will be grateful.”

The 51-year-old has also been president of the Eurogroup body of finance ministers since 2020.

Ms McEntee’s appointment comes ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency of the European Council in the second half of this year and amid ongoing work with the UK government on legacy issues in the North.