Fianna Fáil TDs Michael Moynihan and Niall Collins have been given junior ministerial roles as part of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s new government.
Deputy Moynihan of Kiskeam, returned in the Cork North-West constituency in last November’s general election, has been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion. First elected to the Dáil in 1997, the experienced Deputy Moynihan has served as the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Agriculture and Food from 2011 to 2012, spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2012 to 2016 and Opposition Chief Whip from 2016 to 2020. He has also served as Chairperson of the Disability Matters Committee
Niall Collins of Patrickswell, meanwhile, has been appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Justice with special responsibility for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice. Deputy Collins previously served as Opposition Spokes-person for Justice and Equality from 2011 to 2016, for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from May 2016 to March 2018, and for Foreign Affairs and Trade from March 2018 to June 2020, before being appointed Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with responsibility for Skills and Further Education in July 2020.