Northern Ireland Office

The Prime Minister has announced an additional change to the Northern Ireland Office Ministerial team.

David Cairns MP for Inverclyde will take over most of Lord Rooker’s ministerial portfolio. Lord Rooker, who is moving to DEFRA, will remain the Northern Ireland spokesperson in the House of Lords.

Secretary of State Peter Hain MP said: “David is joining a strong ministerial team and I look forward to working closely with him as he drives forward the important reforming agenda following the Review of Public Administration.

“I am delighted that Jeff Rooker will maintain his links with Northern Ireland as spokesperson in the House of Lords.”

Notes to Editors

David Cairns was born in Greenock in 1966.

In 2001 he was elected as the MP for the constituency of Greenock and Inverclyde. At the 2005 General Election he was returned as the MP for the new enlarged constituency of Inverclyde, and was appointed as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr Cairns will retain his Ministerial responsibilities in the Scotland Office.

The full NIO Ministerial portfolios are

David Hanson MP – Political Development, Criminal Justice, Department for Social Development (DSD), Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). The Minister will retain responsibility for the Maze development. The Minister will have special responsibility for victims.

Maria Eagle MP – Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Department of Education (DE), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and Minister for Children.

Paul Goggins MP – Security, Policing, Prisons and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)

David Cairns MP – Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Department for Regional Development (DRD), Department of the Environment (DoE).

Lord Rooker – Northern Ireland Business in the House of Lords.