The Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) deputy leader Nigel Dodds is to lose his job in the Northern Ireland government today as part of a major ministerial reshuffle.
The DUP leader Peter Robinson had promised a shake-up for some time, but the changes announced today come after his party suffered criticism in the European election campaign over 'double jobbing' politicians.
Deputy leader and North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds leaves the post of Finance Minister, with East Derry MP Gregory Campbell ceasing his job as Culture Minister and Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson stepping-down as junior minister.
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson swaps the environment brief for the job of Finance Minister, while north Belfast Assembly member Nelson McCausland takes on the sensitive Culture ministry.
Fermanagh Assembly member Arlene Foster remains as Enterprise Minister, while former Environment Minister Edwin Poots rejoins the government to reclaim the post, while East Belfast representative Robin Newtown becomes a Junior Minister.
The changes, which will come into effect after the current Assembly term ends later this month, mean the DUP has now reduced the number of sitting MPs who also hold a minister's job in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Mr Robinson today said: "I indicated at the time of my appointment as First Minister that I would make changes to the Ministerial team during the summer of 2009.
"At the outset I want to thank all my colleagues for their work and efforts over the last year."
He added: "As a party we will continue to work in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and I look forward to all our new ministers setting about the business of delivering for the community they serve."
Mr Robinson and the new Finance Minister Sammy Wilson will still be MPs, ministers and Assembly members, while Mr Wilson is also a councillor on Belfast City Council.
The DUP leader has said, however, that he also expects his double-jobbing MPs to chose between sitting in Westminster or Stormont.
Today's move had been expected for some time but it was, nevertheless, seen to have taken on greater urgency as a result of the election campaign.
The DUP won one of the three European parliament seats up for grabs in Northern Ireland, with Mr Dodds' wife Diane elected as the party's new MEP.
But the party vote plummeted from 32 per cent vote share in last Euro poll in 2004 to 18.2 per cent.
The party was hit by a right wing challenge from the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) which seized 13.7% support in its first major electoral outing.
The election performance was a record low for the DUP which has topped the poll in every previous European election.
Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party in the election, which was the first time a nationalist or republican party topped the poll in Northern Ireland-wide election.
Only 42.8 per cent of people eligible to vote cast a ballot — a major drop on the figure of 51.72 per cent at the last European election.
The MPs expenses scandal that has gripped Westminster was believed to have played a roll in causing voters' stay at home.
DUP representatives reported that the issue of expenses was a major topic among angry members of the public as politicians canvassed for support ahead of polling day.
PA