No senior Laois Minister as just one Midlander in new Cabinet

Laois will have no representation at the top table of Government while the four Midlands counties will have just one senior representative for the foreseeable future.

It's also the first time in many years that neither Laois or Offaly will have a voice at the table where key Government decisions are made on spending and a range of other issues.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has re-appointed Longford Westmeath TD Peter Burke as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. The Fine Gael TD landed his party in controversy during the General Election after remarks about teachers made by Michael O'Leary at his campaign launch.

Laois Offaly was represented by Pippa Hackett during the Fine Gael / Fianna Fáil / Green Government. While not senior Minister her 'super junior' status ensured she attended all Cabinet meetings. 

Kildare has two ministers Martin Heydon and James Lawless.

Charlie Flanagan was the last full senior Minister from Laois on the Cabinet. He was not reappointed in 2020 after serving in three Ministries. He retired from politics in 2024.

Laois Fianna Fáil Seán Fleming hopes will be re-appointed as a junior minister and served in two Departments since 2020.

The full cabinet list is located below picture:

Pictured: Sean Fleming with his party leader Micheál Martin at the National Ploughing Championships. Pic: Michael Scully

Taoiseach - Micheál Martin

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence - Simon Harris

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation - Jack Chambers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration - Jim O'Callaghan

Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht - Dara Calleary

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage - James Browne

Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport - Darragh O'Brien

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - James Lawless

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality - Norma Foley

Minister for Finance - Paschal Donohoe

Minister for Health - Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Minister for Education and Youth - Helen McEntee

Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine - Martin Heydon

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment - Peter Burke

Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport - Patrick O'Donovan

Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler has also been appointed to the Government chief whip role as well as responsibility for mental health.

Senior counsel Rossa Fanning has been re-appointed as Attorney General.

Three super junior ministers who will be allowed to sit at Cabinet, but not allowed to speak at it, have also been appointed. They are Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton, and Regional Independent Group TDs Sean Canney and Noel Grealish.

The only minister to be demoted from the Cabinet is Fianna Fáil's Charlie McConalogue.