TOURISM JOB FOR GRIFFIN

KERRY TD Brendan Griffin says he is thrilled and honoured to have been appointed as the new Minister for Tourism and Sport.

The Castlemaine based TD – who was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 – was one of five Fine Gael backbenchers promoted to the Ministerial ranks for the first time when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar named his Junior Ministers on Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning – as news of the Ministerial appointments began to leak from Leinster House – there were fears that the prominent Varadkar supporter, who had been hotly tipped to secure a promotion might have missed out.

The rumours proved to be unfounded and the Taoiseach rang the Griffin household early on Tuesday morning to deliver the good news.

Minister Griffin’s family have strong links to the tourism trade – his father was concierge at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel for 30 years – and he is seen as a good fit for the Killarney-based Department

“I really want to thank the people of Kerry who gave me the opportunity to be in this position today. I want them to know I don’t take it for granted,” he told The Kerryman minutes after his formal appointment on

Tuesday evening.

KERRY TD Brendan Griffin says he is thrilled and honoured to have been appointed as the new Minister for Tourism and Sport.

The Castlemaine based TD – who was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 – was one of five Fine Gael backbenchers promoted to the ministerial ranks for the first time when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar named his Junior Ministers on Tuesday.

Griffin is now Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Tourism and Sport.

Though he is a Junior Minister – who will not have a seat at cabinet – Griffin’s new job will see him managing all day-to-day operations in the departments of Tourism and Sport while his senior Departmental Minister Shane Ross will remain primarily focussed on Transport.

As such Minister Griffin’s ministry – which was previously held by Patrick O’Donovan – is one of the most powerful of all 18 junior ministries.

Minister Griffin was understood to have been extremely disappointed when he wasn’t promoted to Junior Minister in Enda Kenny’s 2014 cabinet reshuffle.

On Tuesday morning – as news of the junior ministerial appointments began to leak from Leinster House – there were concerns that the Keel man might have missed out again.

However, these fears proved unfounded and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar – of whom Griffin has been a long-standing and vocal supporter – rang the Griffin household early on Tuesday morning to deliver the good news.

“I hadn’t heard anything by Monday night and so I went out for a walk to think about what I would do whatever may come. I’ve been there before. When the call doesn’t come it’s very disappointing but you just have to deal with it,” he said.

“I got the call early on Tuesday morning and then I had to take care of a few domestic matters and head off for Dublin,” he said.

“I’m hugely delighted and very honoured to be appointed a Minister. I’m one of only a few Kerry politicians who have had that honour and I will do my very best to live up to the honour,” said the new Minister.

“I really want to thank the people of Kerry who gave me the opportunity to be in this position today. I want them to know I don’t take it for granted,” he said.

“I come from a family steeped in tourism – my father was the concierge at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel for 30 years – and I spent several years working at the coal face of tourism in Killarney myself. I’m also a huge sports fan. It’s daunting but I’m looking forward to getting to work.”