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TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has said that his decision to drop seven of the 20 Ministers of States while promoting two Fianna Fáil TDs from the backbenches reflected the fact that the Government was giving a lead in making sacrifices and reducing cost.

The ministers who have not been reappointed to the reduced second-tier ministerial ranks of 15 are: Noel Ahern (Dublin North West); Seán Power (Kildare South); Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North); Mary Wallace (Meath East); Michael Kitt (Galway East); Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim) and John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny).