Charlie Flanagan is to take over at Minister for Justice, it has been confirmed.
Minister Flanagan has been Foreign Affairs Minister since 2014. He was informed of the move by new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the last few minutes.
According to Independent.ie he had hoped to be left in Foreign Affairs which has had a significant role in Brexit and Northern Ireland.
As a trained solicitor, Minister Flanagan’s profession most likely was a factor in Mr Varadkar’s decision.
There had been speculation new Fine Gael deputy leader Simon Coveney had sought a move to Foreign Affairs.
While in opposition, Minister Flanagan was Fine Gael spokesperson on justice from 2007 to 2010.
This is Minister Flanagan’s third ministerial portfolio. He was appointed to cabinet following the resignation of Alan Shatter as Minister for Justice.
When Frances Fitzgerald took over that role, Mr Flanagan was appointed Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on May 8, 2014.
In July of that year, he was promoted to the more high profile Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.
The Justice portfolio is seen as a challenging one, due to a number of crises in An Garda Síochána.
Minister Flanagan’s move was one of the few high profile changes in the new cabinet. Minister Fitzgerald is believed to be moving to Social Protection.
Deputy Michael Ring is understood to be taking over the Rural Affairs portfolio.
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