BUSINESS AT LEINSTER House has been getting back to normal after a prolonged period of limbo while talks on forming a new government continued for 70 days.
During the week we found out who our new junior ministers will be.
We were also introduced to Fianna Fáil’s front bench, having previously seen who Sinn Féin’s spokespeople in the 32nd Dáil will be.
There were some interesting moves, new faces and snubs.
So, who in the two biggest opposition parties will face off against our new Fine Gael and Independent Alliance ministers?
There are plenty of familiar faces, but a good mix of new ones too.
We’ve taken a look at which ministers and spokespeople have responsibilities for some of the key portfolios.
Finance
Public expenditure and reform
Housing, planning and local government (including water charges)
Health
Mental Health
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Education and Skills
Defence
Social Protection
Justice and Equality
Transport
Talking points
Many of the ministries are still in the hands of familiar Fine Gael faces, but there are some new people in the mix.
Simon Harris, who was elected in the Wicklow constituency just five year ago, has made arguably the biggest leap – from junior minister at the department of finance to health minister.
He replaces Leo Varadkar, who moved to social protection – the role vacated by former Tánaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton. The Dublin West TD denied his new position was a demotion, rather a “sideways move”.
It’ll be interesting to see what some of the new ministers do while in office, perhaps most notably Shane Ross in transport and Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who was a surprise choice for the jobs portfolio.
Ross has previously publicly criticised groups and people he will now need to work with, including transport provider CIE and Siptu’s Jack O’Connor.
Last week, he told the Marian Finucane show that, while he stands by his previous comments, he wants to “throw out an olive branch” to people such as O’Connor, adding: “We’re going to have to both put the past behind us.”
More female TDs
Fianna Fáil had a serious woman problem in the last Dáil.
After prominent senator Averil Power left the party in acrimonious circumstances – she criticised how its marriage referendum campaign was handled and called Micheál Martin “a leader without any followers” – the party had just one female member of the Oireachtas: Senator Mary White, who decided not to seek re-election.
This time around, Fianna Fáil had six female TDs to chose from for front bench positions. The following women got the nod:
Meanwhile, Senator Catherine Ardagh was named as the party’s Seanad leader.
Chambers will go head-to-head with the Taoiseach in her role as defence spokesperson.
Despite being new to the fold, she was a natural choice for this portfolio – having served for 13 years in the Reserve Defence Forces. The role could also pave the way for her to take over the justice brief at some stage.
A notable omission from the Fianna Fáil front bench is Carlow Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, the party’s former spokesman on small business and chair of the Public Accounts Committee. He publicly criticised the party’s direction more than once.
Speaking at the front bench launch during the week, Martin said he will consider re-appointing McGuinness as a committee chair. However, it looks unlikely this will be with the PAC.
Sinn Féin shuffle
Sinn Féin’s new justice spokesperson Jonathan O’Brien had a pop at Fianna Fáil’s front bench when it was announced, calling it the “Fine Gael B Team”, referring to the party backing the Fine Gael-led minority government.
Sinn Féin added nine more TDs, with 23 representing the party in the new Dáil. This was a good result for the party, but many people expected it to do better based on opinion polls.
Several new faces have been given front bench roles as the party looks to make more gains during another term in opposition.
First-time TDs now at the top table include:
It’s also notable that the party is putting a particular emphasis on mental health and suicide prevention, giving this portfolio to deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Her previous brief of public expenditure and reform is now under Cullinane, a former senator.
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