Newly-appointed minister has strong Mayo connections

THE newly-appointed Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, has west Mayo connections.

Her late father, Paddy, was a native of Mill Street, Westport. The new minister is a niece of Barbara Mayock (née Madigan), and Sean Madigan, Gortaroe, Westport.

Deputy Madigan, who is a TD for the Dublin Rathdown constituency, replaces Deputy Heather Humphreys in the role as she has been appointed to the role of Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the position left vacant by the resignation earlier this week of Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also announced the appointed of Minister Simon Coveney as Tanaiste.