Aodhán Ó Ríordáin to be appointed Minister for Drugs

Labour TD and junior Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to be made Minister of State with responsibility for drugs, in addition to his existing roles.

There have been calls in recent months for the Government to reinstate the position of Minister for Drugs, a post which existed under previous governments and which is concerned with substance misuse strategies.

Mr Ó'Ríordáin, a Dublin Bay North deputy, is already a junior Minister at the Department of Justice and at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

It is expected his appointment will be ratified by an incorporeal Cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon.