Fianna Fáil Front Bench
Fianna Fáil is currently the third largest political party in the Oireachtas. On 12 April 2011 party leader Micheál Martin appointed a front bench consisting of all 20 of the party's Teachtaí Dála (TDs) and one councillor to be spokespersons on areas corresponding to the various government departments. This was the second front bench appointed by Martin in 10 weeks: on 31 January 2011 he had appointed a team of TDs, senators, councillors and Fianna Fáil election candidates to speak for the party on different issues in advance of the 2011 general election.[1] The reshuffle became necessary when six sitting front bench TDs, including the deputy leader Mary Hanifin, were not reelected . It also reflected the restructuring of government departments by the incoming Fine Gael - Labour Party coalition.[2][3]
Overview
Fianna Fáil is the largest opposition party in the Dáil and therefore that party's leader takes the title Leader of the Opposition, a largely nominal role. The other parties that occupy the opposition benches include Sinn Féin and the United Left Alliance.
The "Official Opposition" is viewed as the party tasked with keeping the government in check. It is also generally viewed as the alternative government. The Official Opposition maintains a Front bench of TDs that often have the same portfolios as actual ministers. They are known as opposition "spokespersons".
The title of "the Opposition" is held by the largest party in Dáil Éireann which is not in government, and sometimes the Opposition may even be the largest party in the Dáil. The latter situation almost always occurred when Fianna Fáil were in opposition. This is due to the existence of the multi-party system where Fine Gael usually forms a coalition with the Labour Party.
Fianna Fáil Front Bench
| Portfolio | Spokesperson |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Opposition, Spokeperson on Northern Ireland |
Micheál Martin |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |
Vacant |
| Finance | Michael McGrath |
| Foreign Affairs and Trade and Chief Whip | Seán Ó Fearghaíl |
| Public Expenditure and Reform | Seán Fleming |
| Education and Skills | Brendan Smith |
| Social Protection | Barry Cowen |
| Environment, Community and Local Government | Niall Collins |
| Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation | Willie O'Dea |
| Children | Charlie McConalogue |
| Justice, Equality and Defence | Dara Calleary |
| Health | Billy Kelleher |
| Transport, Tourism and Sport | Timmy Dooley |
| Agriculture and Food | Michael Moynihan |
| Arts and Heritage | Robert Troy |
| Marine and Fisheries | John Browne |
| Horticulture and Rural Affairs | Séamus Kirk |
| Housing, Planning and Gaeltacht Affairs | Michael Kitt |
| Small Business Regulatory Framework | John McGuinness |
| Legal adviser | Cllr Jim O'Callaghan |
See also
Footnotes
References
- ^ "Mary Hanafin named new FF Deputy Leader". RTÉ News. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Martin unveils second FF front bench in ten weeks". thejournal.ie. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Fianna Fáil spokespeople announced". RTÉ News. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.