Taoiseach Simon Harris has appointed three new junior ministers on his first full day in office.

Alan Dillon has been appointed Minister of State for Housing with responsibility for Local Government.

Emer Higgins has been appointed Minister of State for Enterprise.

Colm Burke has been appointed Junior Minister with responsibility for Public Health and Drugs Strategy.

The new Government team in full on the steps of Leinster House today. Image: Emily Keegan/Newstalk

Meanwhile, Neale Richmond has been moved from his enterprise brief to become the new Junior Minister in the Department of Finance.

He is replacing Jennifer Carroll McNeill who has been appointed the Junior Minister with responsibility for EU Affairs.

New team

The appointments complete the Taoiseach’s new team, following yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle which saw Peter Burke promoted to Enterprise Minister and Patrick O’Donovan to Higher Education.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, Finance Minister Michael McGrath said the Government is aiming for “stability” following the new appointments.

“This is a Government that will continue into quarter one of next year; we are focused on the major challenges we face,” he said.

“I look forward to having a new colleague in the Department of Finance.

“I also want to pay tribute to Jennifer Carroll McNeill; she was a fantastic colleague and did fantastic work, particularly with Credit Unions, insurance reform, and in the area of international financial services - I wish her the very best in her new role as Minister for EU affairs."

The current Government team will have a maximum of 11 months left in office, as a General Election must be held by March 22nd of next year.

Main image:Party leaders leaving Government buildings today. Image: Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie