LAST UPDATE | 28 Jan

SINN FÉIN’S MARY Lou McDonald has announced her party’s new front bench.

It’s a largely unchanged line-up though there are two newcomers.

Despite stating last year that a “significant” reshuffle was on the cards, McDonald has kept many of her top people in place.

High-profile names like Pearse Doherty (Finance), Eoin Ó Broin (Housing) and David Cullinane (Health) are all remaining in place.

As is Mairéad Farrell (Public Expenditure and Reform) and Claire Kerrane (Children, Disability and Equality). 

Matt Carthy will move from Foreign Affairs to Justice Home Affairs and Migration – meaning he will duel with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Pa Daly will move from Justice to Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport – he will face off with Transport and Climate Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire moves to Foreign Affairs and Trade, putting him head-to-head with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris.

Martin Kenny will move from Transport to Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 

McDonald defended her moves today, arguing that significant experience has been built up by those who are remaining in situ. 

“And actually, I think huge sections of the population have been convinced for a long time that, for example, Sinn Féin has it right on housing,” the party leader said.

“Let me tell you, if any other parties had Pearse Doherty in finance, Eoin Ó Broin in housing and David Cullinane in health, they wouldn’t change them either,” McDonald added.

Mary Lou McDonald has defended her (small) reshuffle, saying any party would keep Pearse Doherty, Eoin O Broin and David Cullinane in situ. “When the government comes back off their holibops and we get down to business you will see… we have the quality, we have the experience.” @thejournal.ie

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— Jane Matthews (@janematthews1.bsky.social) January 28, 2025 at 1:28 PM

Darren O’Rourke is now in Education and Youth, Rose Conway Walsh moves to Enterprise and Tourism, Louise O’Reilly has the Social Protection brief, and Aengus Ó Snodaigh is now over Gaeilge and the Gaeltacht.

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Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is also retained as Chief Whip.

Sorcha Clarke is the only TD to be dropped from the front bench, with newcomers Donna McGettigan taking Further and Higher Education and Joanna Byrne in Arts and Media.

The reshuffle comes after the government unveiled its new Cabinet last week.

Over the weekend, Sinn Féin saw its support rise since the general election last year, putting the party in tied place with Fianna Fáil as the most popular party among voters. 

The first Business Post/Red C poll of the new year saw Sinn Féin jump three points in the poll to 22% when compared with November’s general election result.

With reporting from Jane Matthews