The unexpected resignation of Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe from his role in Government led to a mini-reshuffle of portfolios in the administration.

Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris will step into the role vacated by Donohoe, while Helen McEntee will assume the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence. Galway west’s Hildegarde Naughton is the new Minister for Education and Youth.

Emer Higgins takes on the role of Minister for State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan will become Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement, digitisation and e-government.

Donohoe, who is leaving his role to take up a senior position at the World Bank as managing director and chief knowledge Officer, will also stand down as a TD for Dublin Central, a seat he has held since 2011.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon expressed surprise at Donohoe’s departure saying: “It came as a huge shock to us all that after 18 years as an Oireachtas member, ten years either as minister for finance or public expenditure over those ten budgets, that he was going on to pastures new and taking on a new form of public service.”