Seán Sherlock expressed his delight this week at having been appointed by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Trade, North South Cooperation and Overseas Development.

“I’m honoured that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have placed their trust in my for the remainder of the Government and I consider this a promotion. I will have responsibility for North-South cooperation and that is an area that is very close to my heart. I’m very anxious to build on the bilateral links between North and South from a trade point of view and I’m very aware of the number of Irish companies that are seeking to trade overseas, he said, adding that Ireland completed €17billion plus in exports last hear ‘and that is all predicated on companies getting into the export markets abroad’.

Minister Sherlock also highlighted the responsibility for overseas aid: “I’m very excited by this role, I will also have responsibility for overseas development aid and I look forward to meeting with agencies such as Trocaire and Concern as Ireland has punched above its weight in this area,” stressed Minister Sherlock.

“It’s a strong diplomatic brief. I consider it a promotion and I hope to get stuck into the brief today. I feel I had a good innings as research minister and I look forward to working to ensure that research is continue to be funded adequately.”