Fine Gael Front Bench
 | This article needs to be updated. (September 2020) |
Fine Gael is the third largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. When Fine Gael was in opposition, the front bench areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of Government ministers. Fine Gael has been in Government since March 2011 and accordingly their front bench consists of the ministerial officeholders. In 2020 a number of non ministerial office holders were appointed as spokespeople for policy areas where Fine Gael does not have a minister.
Fine Gael Ministers
Ministers of Government
On 27 June 2020, six Fine Gael TDs were appointed to the 32nd Government of Ireland.[1]
| Name | Elected office | Portfolio | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Varadkar | TD for Dublin West | Leader of Fine Gael Tánaiste Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
2017– 2020– 2020– |
| Simon Coveney | TD for Cork South-Central | Deputy Leader of Fine Gael Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Defence |
2017– 2017– 2020– |
| Paschal Donohoe | TD for Dublin Central | Minister for Finance | 2017– |
| Helen McEntee | TD for Meath East | Minister for Justice | 2020– |
| Simon Harris | TD for Wicklow | Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | 2020– |
| Heather Humphreys | TD for Cavan–Monaghan | Minister for Social Protection Minister for Rural and Community Development |
2020– 2020– |
Ministers of State
On 27 June 2020, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Fine Gael TD, Hildegarde Naughton as a Minister of State, attending Government meetings without a vote. On 1 July, the government appointed seven further Fine Gael TDs as Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.
Fine Gael Party Spokespeople
Party Spokespeople
On 22 July 2020, at a meeting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party the Parliamentary Party chair, deputy chair, secretary and assistant secretary were elected.[2]
On 30 September 2020, Fine Gael Leader, Leo Varadkar, appointed a number TDs as party spokespeople covering policy areas in which the party does not have a minister. Their role is to support the Government, develop policy, speak in the Dáil and media and engage with interest groups in these areas on behalf of the party. In most cases, they are the lead Fine Gael member and convener on the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee.[3]
| Name | Elected office | Portfolio | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Bruton | TD for Dublin Bay North | Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party | 2020– |
| Jennifer Carroll MacNeill | TD for Dún Laoghaire | Deputy Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Spokesperson on Equality |
2020– 2020– |
| Alan Dillon | TD for Mayo | Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Spokesperson on Tourism and Sport |
2020– 2020– |
| Emer Higgins | TD for Dublin Mid-West | Assistant Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Spokesperson on Social Media and Fintech |
2020– 2020– |
| Colm Burke | TD for Cork North-Central | Spokesperson on Health | 2020– |
| Ciaran Cannon | TD for Galway East | Spokesperson on Media, Arts and Culture | 2020– |
| Alan Farrell | TD for Dublin Fingal | Spokesperson on Climate Action | 2020– |
| Neale Richmond | TD for Dublin Rathdown | Spokesperson on European Affairs | 2020– |
Seanad Spokespeople
On 10 July 2020, Fine Gael Leader, Leo Varadkar announced the Seanad Spokespersons for the party. Their role is to support the Government, develop policy, speak in the Seanad on matters relating to their policy area on behalf of Fine Gael.[4] On 18 September 2020, Fine Gael Senator, Joe O'Reilly was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.[5]
| Name | Elected office | Portfolio | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regina Doherty | Senator nominated by the Taoiseach | Deputy Leader of the Seanad | 2020– |
| Joe O'Reilly | Senator for the Labour Panel | Leas Cathaoirleach Spokesperson on Foreign and European Affairs, Defence and Brexit |
2020– 2020– |
| Sean Kyne | Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel | Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform and Gaeltacht | 2020– |
| Emer Currie | Senator nominated by the Taoiseach | Spokesperson on Employment Affairs, Work/Life Balance and Northern Ireland | 2020– |
| Aisling Dolan | Senator nominated by the Taoiseach | Spokesperson on Education, Science and Innovation (including Higher Education) | 2020– |
| Garret Ahearn | Senator for the Administrative Panel | Spokesperson on Enterprise and Trade | 2020– |
| Mary Seery Kearney | Senator nominated by the Taoiseach | Spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Privacy Rights | 2020– |
| John Cummins | Senator for the Labour Panel | Spokesperson on Housing, Heritage and Local Government | 2020– |
| Barry Ward | Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel | Spokesperson on Justice | 2020– |
| Tim Lombard | Senator for the Agricultural Panel | Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Marine | 2020– |
| Micheál Carrigy | Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel | Spokesperson on Media, Arts, Sports and Tourism | 2020– |
| John McGahon | Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel | Spokesperson on Climate, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources | 2020– |
| Martin Conway | Senator for the Administrative Panel | Spokesperson on Health | 2020– |
References
- ^ "Government Ministers". Gov.ie. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ Horgan-Jones, Jack (22 July 2020). "Richard Bruton elected chairman of Fine Gael parliamentary party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ Scally, Aisling (30 September 2020). "Tánaiste and Fine Gael Leader Leo Varadkar announces party spokespeople". Fine Gael. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ Varadkar, Leo (10 July 2020). "Tánaiste and Fine Gael President Leo Varadkar announces Seanad Spokespersons". Fine Gael. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Seanad Éireann debate - Friday, 18 Sep 2020". Oireachtas. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2021.