Dempsey resigns ministerial post

Meath West TD Noel Dempsey has resigned his position as Minister for Transport. He joins Dermot Ahern and Tony Killeen in departing the cabinet, following the announcement by Health Minister Mary Harney that she was not seeking re-election and resigning her ministry. This leaves five ministerial vacancies with the resignation on Tuesday night of Michael Martin as Minister for Foreign Affairs following his challenge to the leadership of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Speaking on RTE Radio's Morning Ireland, Mr Dempsey said that when he informed the Taoiseach in December that he would not be seeking re-election, he told him he would stay on as long as Mr Cowen wished him to remain as minister, or give his resignation. Mr Cowen had indicated at the time that he would be reshuffling his cabinet in a few week's time, and Mr Dempsey said that when he wanted the letter of resignation, he would give it to him. This he did on Wednesday night. Mr Dempsey, first elected to the Dail in 1987, served in the departments of transport, communications, education, and environment and was a government chief whip.