Sinn Féin Executive reshuffle
Sinn Féin reshuffled its Executive ministers following Conor Murphy’s election to Seanad Éireann in January 2025.
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Caoimhe Archibald MLA Minister for the Economy Caoimhe Archibald succeeds Murphy as Minister for the Economy after serving as Minister of Finance for exactly 365 days. With a PhD in molecular mycology and experience working in the agrifood industry, her appointment is broadly welcomed by the business community. The Coleraine native has been an East Derry MLA since 2016. |
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John O’Dowd MLA Minister of Finance John O’Dowd moves from Infrastructure Minister to Minister of Finance following Archibald’s move to DfE. O’Dowd has been an Upper Bann MLA since November 2003 and is one of the most recognisable faces in Northern Ireland politics. He took the role of Minister for Infrastructure in 2023 having briefly held the position in 2022 after Nichola Mallon lost her seat in the Assembly election. Prior to this, O’Dowd served as Education Minister from 2011 to 2016, and was deputy First Minister from September to October 2011 when Martin McGuinness ran for President of Ireland. |
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Liz Kimmins MLA Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins becomes Minister for Infrastructure, securing her first role as an Executive minister after five years on the Assembly backbenches. Kimmins was first co-opted into the Assembly in January 2020, representing the Newry and Armagh constituency. She was subsequently re-elected in 2022. A former councillor, Kimmins was also a registered social worker prior to becoming a full-time politician. |
