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]

Contents

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.

Official Opposition Years
Labour Party 1922–1927
Fianna Fáil 1927–1932
Cumann na nGaedheal 1932–1933
Fine Gael 1933–1948
Fianna Fáil 1948–1951
Fine Gael 1951–1954
Fianna Fáil 1954–1957
Fine Gael 1957–1973
Fianna Fáil 1973–1977
Fine Gael 1977–1981
Fianna Fáil 1981–1982
Fine Gael 1982
Fianna Fáil 1982–1987
Fine Gael 1987–1994
Fianna Fáil 1994–1997
Fine Gael 1997–2011
Fianna Fáil 2011–

Fianna Fáil Front Bench

Since 4 August 2011:[3][2]

Portfolio Spokesperson
Leader of the Opposition,
Spokeperson on Northern Ireland		 Micheál Martin
Deputy Leader of the Opposition,
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources		 Éamon Ó Cuív
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

  1. ^ "Mary Hanafin named new FF Deputy Leader". RTÉ News. 31 January 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0131/politics.html. Retrieved 31 January 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Martin unveils second FF front bench in ten weeks". thejournal.ie. 12 April 2011. http://www.thejournal.ie/martin-unveils-second-ff-front-bench-in-ten-weeks-119717-Apr2011/?utm_source=shortlink. Retrieved 12 April 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Fianna Fáil spokespeople announced". RTÉ News. 12 April 2011. http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0412/fiannafail.html. Retrieved 12 April 2011. 

External links