Dara Calleary ‘honoured to rejoin Cabinet’ as part of mini-reshuffle

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Dara Calleary has said he is “honoured to rejoin Cabinet” as part of a mini-reshuffle prompted by Michael McGrath’s promotion from Finance Minister to Ireland’s EU Commissioner nominee.

Mr McGrath’s party colleague Jack Chambers took over in the Finance portfolio, becoming the second-youngest person to hold the role.

Mr Chambers’ position as a junior minister at two departments has been filled by Kildare North TD and justice committee chairman James Lawless.

Mr Calleary, who is a junior minister at the Department of Enterprise, has been elevated to a ‘super’ junior minister, meaning he will attend Cabinet.

The Mayo TD had served as agriculture minister before resigning in 2020 in the wake of the Golfgate controversy and said he was “very honoured to be rejoining Cabinet”.

“I would like to thank the Tánaiste for the opportunity,” he said.

“I look forward to working with colleagues on a range of issues but particularly focused on helping our enterprise community, our digital community and growing enterprises and business across the regions.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris congratulated both Fianna Fáil TDs on their appointments.

“Dara has worked hard as Minister of State and will bring this experience to Government meetings with a focus on trade promotion and digital transformation,” he said.

He formally appointed Mr Lawless as Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics at the Department of Transport, and as a junior minister at the Department of the Environment, with special responsibility for Postal Policy.

“James has an important portfolio with responsibility for road transport and postal policy,” he said.

Mr Lawless said: “I’m honoured to be appointed this evening as Minister of State.

“It is a huge honour to serve my country, serve the government and serve my party. Transport is at the heart of the Kildare North commuter belt and all that I’ve worked towards as a public representative.

“I look forward to building on the work done by Minister Jack Chambers and getting stuck into my brief.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: “James has been an excellent TD, showing particular interest and expertise in transport coming from the commuter belt area, with a particular focus on public transport. He is a very diligent legislator who will do a very fine job as a Minister of State.”

He continued: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Minister Dara Calleary as Minister of State at the Cabinet table with responsibility at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

“Dara has vast experience in many different capacities, but he has been particularly attuned to the concerns of the business sector, in particular small to medium-sized enterprises and to the developing world of artificial intelligence and the competitive advantages Ireland has in the digital area.

“I believe that at the Cabinet table he will be a strong advocate for these issues.”